Rheem Water Heater Settlement Ends Litigation Over Allegedly Defective Drain Valves

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Rheem Manufacturing Company and Melet Plastics have agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed the utilities manufacturers produced and sold defective plastic water heater drain valves, which were the alleged cause of leaks and sudden product failure.

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The Rheem Manufacturing class action settlement received preliminary court approval on November 25, 2025, and covers all individuals or entities that own or have owned one of the affected water heaters, or that own homes or other structures physically located in the United States where one of the affected water heater valves was installed.

The court-approved website for the Rheem Manufacturing class action settlement can be found at RheemDrainValveSettlement.com.

The settlement website states that the covered round poly drain valves were produced and sold by Rheem between 2019 and 2023 and have any of the following part numbers:

 AP12159A, AP12159B, AP12159C, AP12159D, AP12159E, AP12159F, AP12159G, AP12159H, AP12159J, AP12159K, AP14830A, AP14830B, AP14830C, AP14830D, AP14830E, AP14830F, AP14830G, AP16800A, AP16800B, AP16800C, AP16800D, AP16800E, AP16800F, AP16800G, AP16838A, AP16838B, AP16838C, AP16838D, AP16838E, AP16838F, AP16838G, SP12159A, SP12159B, SP12159C, SP12159D, SP12159E, SP12159F SP12159G, SP12159H, SP12159J, SP12159K, SP14830A, SP14830B, SP14830C, SP14830D, SP14830E, SP14830F, SP14830G, SP16800A, SP16800B, SP16800C, SP16800D, SP16800E, SP16800F, SP16800G, SP16838A, SP16838B, SP16838C, SP16838D, SP16838E, SP16838F, or SP16838G.

According to the website,  Rheem settlement class members have multiple options for reimbursement.

All settlement class members are eligible to receive a two-year parts-only warranty extension for the affected water heaters without needing to file a claim. Settlement documents explain that the parts-only warranty covers the cost of materials and workmanship of the affected product, but not any labor expenses for any service or repairs of the defective water heaters, nor the cost of any water heater issues not related to the defect. Per the settlement website, if the original warranty term has already expired, the new warranty will become effective upon final approval of the settlement.

Rheem class members who submit a valid, timely claim form have additional options in regard to warranty coverage, cash payments, and replacement parts, the settlement site outlines.

In place of the two-year, parts-only warranty, the site relays that class members may file a claim to receive a one-year elective warranty extension, which covers both parts and labor costs associated with the defective water heaters. Importantly, the settlement agreement states that this benefit is only available to the first 100,000 class members who file a claim for it, and any subsequent class members who file a claim will receive the two-year, parts-only warranty extension.

In place of either warranty extension, Rheem class members may instead file a claim to receive for one replacement brass drain valve. Settlement documents specify that this benefit is only available to the first 20,000 class members who file a claim for it, and that each class member may receive only one replacement part in total.

Finally, in addition to either warranty extension or a replacement valve, all class members who submit with their claim form documented proof of out-of-pocket losses are eligible to receive a one-time cash payment of up to $1,500. This payment, the agreement reports, is subject to an aggregate total cap of $500,000 for all cash payouts and may become pro-rated if the number of claim forms filed exceeds that amount.

To submit a Rheem Manufacturing settlement claim form online, class members can head to this page and complete all required fields with their relevant information and submit any supporting documentation. Alternatively, class members can download a PDF of the claim form here to print, complete, and return by mail to the address of the settlement administrator.

All Rheem Manufacturing settlement claim forms must be submitted online or postmarked by March 20, 2026.

The court will determine whether to grant final approval to the settlement at a hearing on May 11, 2026. Compensation will be distributed to class members only after final approval has been granted and any appeals have been resolved.

The Rheem Manufacturing class action lawsuit alleged that Rheem Manufacturing and Melet Plastics promoted and sold defective poly drain water heater valves while knowing the products were defective and prone to sudden failure.

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