A.O. Smith Class Action Lawsuit Claims ‘Cheap’ Plastic Water Heater Drain Valves Are Defective

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims that A.O. Smith has knowingly sold residential water heaters equipped with defective plastic drain valves that are prone to premature failure under normal use, leaving consumers vulnerable to an increased risk of leaks, water damage and expensive home repairs.

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The 38-page defective product lawsuit contends that A.O. Smith, a major water heater manufacturer in North America, failed to inform consumers that the drain valves incorporated at the base of its water heater tanks are made of a plastic, glass-filled nylon that is predisposed to warping and cracking when exposed to the hot, chlorinated water stored in a tank.

The case charges that A.O. Smith designed the valves to be made of plastic instead of industry-standard brass as a cheaper, cost-effective alternative that the company advertises as having “comparable performance.” However, the plastic valves are “materially inferior” and unsuitable for their intended use, the filing claims.

Despite receiving complaints from consumers and plumbers alike, A.O. Smith has continued to tout its water heaters equipped with the defective drain valves as reliable, durable and high-quality, and has not issued a recall or informed the public of the issue, the suit says.

“Glass–filled nylon is significantly less resistant to heat, pressure, and long–term exposure to hot, chlorinated water than brass,” the case describes. “Unlike brass, which maintains its dimensional stability and sealing performance throughout the life of a water heater, glass–filled nylon is susceptible to chemical degradation, thermal distortion, and embrittlement under normal operating conditions.”

The basic function of a water heater is to heat and store anywhere from 30 to 80 gallons of water, the filing says. A water heater typically contains several safety and maintenance components to ensure proper functioning, and that the reservoir of hot water stays within the tank, the case mentions.

A key component of proper water heater maintenance is the periodic draining or flushing of sediment built up in the tank using the drain valve, the lawsuit says. However, the suit relays that, because of the plastic A.O Smith valves at issue, consumers report being unable to fully close the watertight seal of the valve after draining their water heater, or, in some situations, notice spontaneous leaking without any prior interaction with the valve.

“These failures are not the result of misuse, improper installation, or abnormal operating conditions,” the filing asserts. “Rather, they arise from A.O. Smith’s decision to manufacture and install drain valves made of inexpensive glass–filled nylon instead of brass, a material known to withstand the high–temperature, high–pressure, corrosive environment inside a water heater.”

Consequently, A.O. Smith water heaters, which are sold under several brand names including State and Reliance, are incapable of living up to their eight- to 10-year expected lifespan, the class action lawsuit alleges.

The plaintiff, a California resident, claims to have incurred approximately $5,000 in out-of-pocket expenses to repair water damage in his home after his Reliance-brand A.O. Smith water heater leaked twice in less than two years. Per the complaint, after the first leak in July 2023, A.O. Smith sent the plaintiff a replacement plastic drain valve that predictably did not hold up any better than the first and left the man with no choice but to replace the water heater entirely.

The A.O. Smith class action lawsuit looks to represent all individuals in the United States who purchased a residential tank-style water heater manufactured or sold by A.O. Smith, including those branded as State or Reliance, that was equipped with a plastic drain valve.

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