MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Rheem finished first in a recent reader survey conducted byHome Builder Executive (HBE)magazine. The research sought to assess builders’ partnership levels with key vendors in various major product categories, including tankless water heaters.

According to the magazine, participants were “purchasing executives at the nation’s leading regional home builders.”

Their response to the question, “Which suppliers/brands do you currently use in your homes this year?”, placed Rheem at the top of the tankless water heater category. Forty-three percent of the respondents indicated Rheem, with the nearest competitor attracting 34 percent, followed by a third at 15 percent, and several others in single digits. The responses were weighted based on the purchasing power of participating builders. As part of the announcement of the survey’s results,HBEeditors also pointed out that the “survey is not a market-share analysis; rather, it gauges builders’ partnerships in each [product] category.”

“Rheem is very pleased with the first-place finish,” said Bob Hitchner, director of Rheem Tankless Sales. “Our showing is a testament to the continuing strength of the Rheem brand among leading builders across the United States, and to the work of our sales and marketing team on behalf of the rapidly emerging tankless category.”

For more information, visit www.rheem.com.

Publication date:02/25/2008