Innovation is our roots

Ruud Pioneering spirit

Ruud® has walked the walk of a hardworking, pioneering brand since its earliest days in the late 1800s.

Our fearless approach to innovation began with a Norwegian taking the risk of a lifetime when Edwin Ruud embarked on his journey to America to work as a mechanical engineer. While employed, he pioneered the first automatic storage water heater, highlighting his unrivaled grit and determination. This revolutionary device consisted of a cast iron shell, enclosing burners and a thermostat that controlled the gas valves.

edwin ruud
First Water Heater

And this was just the beginning for Ruud—both the person and the future industry-leading brand.

Edwin left his job, bought the rights to his invention and started his own company. He continued to refine and improve his design, earning a reputation as a trailblazer in water heating products, not only for the home but for commercial and industrial applications as well.

His legacy and passion for innovation were so strongly rooted in the company he had built, that even after his passing in 1932, the breakthroughs continued—eventually leading to the 1950s introduction of the Ruud® brand of heating and air conditioning equipment.

Ruud pioneered the first successful automatic storage water heater in 1889. His work even earned him a Gold Medal at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.

the legacy of reliability and quality continues

Over a century later, the Ruud name remains synonymous with quality and reliability. It’s the way Edwin Ruud would have wanted it—and we work hard to promote a customer-focused culture of continual improvement to ensure we constantly exceed expectations. All genuine Ruud heating, cooling and water heating products meet and surpass rigorous industry standards for performance and reliability so our customers can enjoy peace of mind.

First Unit Produced
Our Commitment to Quality

Delivering complete residential and commercial solutions

As a proven industry leader, people count on Ruud for residential and commercial heating and cooling as well as storage-style water heaters, tankless water heaters and solar water heating systems. Ruud has reliable, cost-effective solutions for:

  • Households
  • Commercial and industrial applications
  • Residential, commercial, institutional,
    industrial and manufactured housing
  • New construction, major renovation,
    simple repair and replacement
product group
1992 Ruud gas furnace ad
No Matter How ad
Ruud Worker

All backed by world-class customer support

Reliable customer support is priority one at Ruud. We have local professionals serving communities all across the country dedicated to providing timely, effective support and peace of mind to all homeowners, business customers, plumbers, contractors and distributors.

ruud pro partner

Standing out in Sustainability

By developing products that make more responsible use of resources—and building them more responsibly ourselves—we’re making a difference that can be felt across our global footprint.

Sustainability Standout