According to a new study from Clear Seas Research on the U.S. water heater market, quality was the most important factor to plumbing and heating contractors (70%) when choosing a brand of water heater to carry and install. Next in line was brand reputation (62%), price (45%), warranty (45%), brand stocked by wholesaler (44%), and technical support (41%).
Other notable results of the study include the following:
- Residential and retrofit comprises the majority of contractors’ tank water heater business;
- One third of the contractors surveyed reported an average increase of 21% in their tankless business;
- A majority of contractors purchase water heaters from multiple wholesalers, however about one-quarter are loyal to a single wholesaler;
- Contractors rely most on personal experience and their wholesaler for their information on water heaters, followed next by trade magazines and the Internet.
