A.O. Smith sued over plastic drain valves

A.O. Smith was hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit last week. 

What’s happening: Filed in Wisconsin, the suit alleges that the company uses plastic, glass–filled nylon drain valves on its residential water heaters, promoting them as cost-effective alternatives to brass valves. 

• Yes, but: “These valves malfunction by dripping, leaking, or failing outright when subjected to normal household water pressure and temperature,” the suit says. 
• “Instead of industry-standard brass valves, the plastic valves used by [the] Defendant degrade, crack, warp, and lose their seal under normal use, particularly during routine flushing that A.O. Smith itself recommends,” it adds.

Go deeper: The named plaintiff is a California man who bought an A.O. Smith water heater in January 2020 and claims the plastic drain valve leaked, causing substantial water damage to the surrounding flooring, cabinetry, and drywall. 

• According to the complaint, A.O. Smith sent a replacement valve; however, in early 2025, the customer experienced another leak. From the incidents, he incurred approximately $5,000 of out-of-pocket repair costs. 

Zoom out: The lawsuit cites additional online complaints by consumers, including a Reddit thread titled, “F*** you AoSmith and your plastic drain valves,” noting they’ve experienced “situations in which simply opening the valve once — often to perform the recommended annual tank flush — results in a valve that can no longer close or seal.” 

• It also alleges fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment, and breaches of various warranty laws. 

Looking ahead: A.O. Smith hasn’t yet filed a response to the complaint. 

• “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on current or ongoing litigation,” Sara Bojar, Director of Corporate Communications at A.O. Smith, told Homepros.

Image: A.O. Smith valve. Source: Court filings