hot water

Line extension offers more high efficiency options to meet customer needs

A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment solutions, announces the extension of the Adapt™ Gas Tankless Water Heater family with the addition of the Adapt™ SC Standard Condensing Gas Tankless Water Heater and the Adapt™ NC Non-Condensing Gas Tankless Water Heater. By rounding out the product suite, A. O. Smith will offer customers multiple high efficiency gas tankless water heating solutions for different applications.

The Adapt SC Tankless Water Heater is the perfect fit for contractors looking for a high efficiency solution for their everyday customers. Available in 160k, 180k and 199k BTU/Hr models, the Adapt SC models are ENERGY STAR®-certified and feature a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 0.95. The Adapt SC water heater is designed for universal installation, either indoor or outdoor with an optional outdoor vent cap kit. Meanwhile, a four-button display makes adjusting the unit simple and easy.

“With the extension of the Adapt suite, we are excited to provide our customers with even more flexibility and high efficiency tankless technology options to suit a wider variety of water heating needs,” said Neil Rolph, A. O. Smith vice president of product engineering & management. “A. O. Smith prides itself on being a reliable, steadfast producer of high-performing, long-lasting water heaters that fit the modern home. We’re proud to provide enhanced durability and low-maintenance technology, thanks to the X3® Scale Prevention Technology standard with X3 units in the Adapt suite, and as an optional accessory with bypass-equipped models.” 

The Adapt NC Tankless Water Heater will launch later this year and will initially be available in an indoor model, with an outdoor model to follow. The builder-grade Adapt NC series will be available in 180k and 199k BTU/Hr to, making it flexible to fit various installation needs, from replacements to new construction. The Adapt NC series will also come with the ability to link multiple units together using a single cascade cable.

To learn more about the Adapt Tankless Water Heater family and A. O. Smith’s full suite of offerings, visit www.hotwater.com.

World’s first tankless water heater with built-in scale prevention recognized for efficiency, innovative features and zero lifetime maintenance, delivering significant homeowner savings and instant hot water on demand.

A. O. Smith has announced the company received a 2025 Silver Edison Award for its new line of high efficiency gas tankless water heaters. Recognized under the “Sustainable Consumer Products” category, A. O. Smith’s Adapt™ with X3® Scale Prevention Technology is the world’s first tankless water heater with fully integrated scale prevention technology, which extends the product’s lifetime by three times and eliminates the need for costly annual maintenance. The Edison Awards, named after the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison, has recognized world-changing innovations and the brilliant minds behind them since 1987.

“A. O. Smith has been at the forefront of American manufacturing innovation for more than 150 years, from developing the world’s first mass production process for assembling auto frames for Henry Ford in 1906 to introducing the first 95% energy-efficient water heater in 1986,” said Betsy Curran, director of marketing and customer engagement at A. O. Smith. “We’re honored to receive this prestigious award and be recognized on a global scale for our ongoing commitment to innovating new sustainable solutions that deliver significant energy savings, ultimate peace of mind and plenty of hot water.”

Adapt Features

Scale buildup is the number one cause of failure in tankless water heaters. The new Adapt™ line features first-of-its kind, patented built-in X3® Scale Prevention Technology that provides protection for the heat exchanger, so the unit lasts three times longer than a standard tankless water heater. Homeowners benefit from like-new performance with zero lifetime de-scaling maintenance required, along with the industry’s first ever “Peace of Mind” limited warranty. Available in 160K, 180K and 199K BTU inputs, all models are field convertible from Natural Gas to Liquid Propane (kit included) and can be installed indoors or outdoors. Adapt™ is also Ultra-Low NOx and ENERGY STAR® certified, qualifying homeowners for rebates up to $1,300 in some states. To find local rebates in your area, visit hotwater.com.

Silver Edison Award

The 2025 finalists were selected from thousands of submissions, rigorously evaluated on Concept, Value, and Impact by the Edison Awards Steering Committee and an independent panel of experts, including senior scientists, engineers, designers, and business leaders. Their expertise ensures that the winners set new standards for ingenuity and influence across industries.

To see the full list of 2025 Edison Award winners, visit edisonawards.com/2025-winners. For more information about A. O. Smith and Adapt™ premium condensing gas tankless water heaters with X3® Scale Prevention Technology, visit hotwater.com.

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The A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) Board of Directors announced that Kevin Wheeler will transition from chairman and chief executive officer to executive chairman of the corporation, effective July 1, 2025. At that time, Stephen Shafer will be appointed to the Board of Directors and will assume the role of president and chief executive officer.

Kevin Wheeler Role

As executive chairman, Wheeler will continue to lead the company’s Board of Directors and remain actively involved in strategic development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and executive talent development.

Stephen Shafer Role

Shafer becomes the 11^th chief executive officer in the company’s 151-year history. He will have responsibility for the company’s global operations, as well as strategy development and implementation, profitability and shareholder return. Shafer joined A. O. Smith as president and chief operating officer in March 2024 to lead the company’s global business units, including operations, supply chain, corporate technology and information technology.

“Steve’s broad business experience, coupled with his strategic business acumen, uniquely positions him to guide A. O. Smith as the company continues its journey as a global water technology leader,” said Wheeler. “For the past year, Steve has collaborated closely with me and other business leaders to understand our business and identify opportunities to drive enhanced performance and continued growth in both sales and profitability.”

“A. O. Smith experienced significant progress and profitable growth under Kevin’s leadership,” said lead director Ron Brown. “During his tenure, the company acquired Giant Factories, a Canadian water heater manufacturer, as well as six water treatment companies, including one in India. As chairman, president and chief executive officer during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin led the company through an unprecedented period, maintaining business continuity while prioritizing the health and safety of employees.”

Experience

Wheeler joined A. O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company. Over the course of his 31-year career with A. O. Smith, he has held numerous senior leadership roles, including vice president – international, overseeing all European and Asian water heating operations; senior vice president and general manager of the U.S. retail water heater business; and senior vice president and president for the North America, India and Europe water heating businesses.

Prior to becoming chairman and chief executive officer, Wheeler was chairman, president and chief executive officer from April 2020 to March 2024, and was president and chief executive officer from September 2018 to April 2020. He was named president and chief operating officer in June 2017 and elected to the A. O. Smith Board of Directors in July 2017.

Before A. O. Smith, Shafer worked at 3M Company from 2010-2024 and held several positions with increasing levels of responsibility in multiple business units in the U.S. and China. His most recent role at 3M was president of the Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division. Prior to 3M, he worked for McKinsey & Company and Ford Motor Company, holding various roles focusing on manufacturing, supply chain and operational improvement. 

He is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for WorkBoard Inc., a former board member of Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce and served as a Big Brother Big Sister mentor.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to step into the role of chief executive officer and lead this great company and exceptional team,” said Shafer. “I look forward to continuing to build on the solid foundation at A. O. Smith and deliver outstanding value to our shareholders, employees and customers.”

“The board is extremely pleased with how well Kevin and Steve have worked together to make this a smooth transition,” said Brown. “As a board, we look forward to continuing to support both of them in creating additional value for our shareholders.”

For more on A.O. Smith, https://mechanical-hub.com/a-o-smith-celebrates-product-development-center-grand-opening/

A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces three significant updates on the North America Water Heating sales team. After 34 years with A. O. Smith, Mark Gierla, vice president of Eastern region sales, will retire on April 1, 2025. Matt Patterson, national accounts director, will be promoted to vice president of Western region sales in January 2025 as part of this transition. Jerry Lapour, sales director, will move into Patterson’s role.

Gierla joined A. O. Smith in 1990 as district manager. He relocated several times and assumed various sales roles along the way. In 2007, he moved to the Nashville area, and in 2010, he was promoted to the newly created role of vice president of regional sales. During his tenure, he’s helped launch some of the company’s most important product innovations — most notably, the Cyclone^® commercial water heater, which still leads the industry today. Going forward, Gierla’s role will be split between the regional vice president Western sales and the regional vice president Eastern sales.

“We thank Mark for his dedication to our organization, his tenacity and his skill to drive the business forward,” said Chuck Dean, vice president of wholesale sales.

Patterson has been with the company for 12 years and has worked as a technical sales specialist in factory sales in Tennessee, a regional sales manager in the Northwest U.S. and most recently as national accounts director. He also spent two years on the A. O. Smith mobile marketing vehicle showcasing new products to wholesalers around the country.

Lapour joined A. O. Smith in 2023 and comes with many years of industry experience. He most recently worked for Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, managing the north central region. Prior to that, he worked with Elkay Manufacturing for 17 years, with responsibilities including regional sales manager for the North Central U.S. and national account responsibility for Winsupply, where he received the “Account Manager of the Year” award in 2020. LaPour is also a veteran and served with the XVIII Airborne Corps in Desert Storm.

“Having experienced leaders ready to assume these new roles is of great benefit to the organization and I am confident these transitions will be seamless,” said Dean.