Essency
Essency SAS manufactures electric on-demand tank water heaters (EXR and EXR-D) with proprietary polymer composite construction and an 80-gallon First Hour Rating, selling exclusively via Ferguson wholesale distribution and a certified Pro League installer network to US residential homeowners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersOak Ridge North, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Essency does
Essency SAS designs, manufactures, and distributes electric on-demand tank water heaters (the EXR and EXR-D product lines) for the US residential market from R&D operations in Les Herbiers, France, with US regional headquarters in Oak Ridge North, Texas. The company's core technology is SmartCore — a primary/secondary heat exchange architecture in which a 55-gallon static tank of water acts as a thermal battery and a stainless steel flat-plate heat exchanger delivers up to 80 gallons First Hour Rating on demand. The tank itself is built from proprietary polymer composite materials, operates at atmospheric pressure (eliminating expansion/contraction stress), and is rated for a 30+ year service life with a 20-year transferable warranty. Smart-home features include WiFi connectivity, a built-in touchscreen, and the MyEssency mobile app (iOS and Android) for remote control, modes such as Vacation and Heat+, automated software updates, and early-warning alerts; the EXR-D variant adds Demand Response capability via a utility-provided Universal Communications Module.
The business model is B2B2C hardware sales. Essency does not sell direct to consumers or via big-box retail; instead the company sells exclusively through Ferguson as the US wholesale distributor and a certified Pro League installer network. Contractors must complete Essency training and certification before joining the Pro League, after which they appear on the ServiceWhale contractor directory and the Essency dealer locator. End customers (residential homeowners — including high-capacity households, gas-to-electric switchers, hard-water markets, and seasonal-home owners) buy through these certified installers at installer-set prices. Additional revenue streams include spare parts, repair kits, accessories, and upgrade kits converting EXR units to EXR-D. Geographic coverage is 19 active US states with 12 additional states announced for 2026; the company is a subsidiary of GT Group (General Transmissions), a French industrial conglomerate that has provided R&D and corporate backing since Essency's 2010 founding.
Essency firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Essency
- Legal name
- Essency SAS
- Website
- https://essencyhome.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Essency SAS manufactures electric on-demand tank water heaters (EXR and EXR-D) with proprietary polymer composite construction and an 80-gallon First Hour Rating, selling exclusively via Ferguson wholesale distribution and a certified Pro League installer network to US residential homeowners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Essency industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Electric Water Heaters
- NAICS
- Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (33241)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Electric Housewares & Fans (3634)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tank Water Heater Installation & Replacement (HSAOACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment (IMAHAKAC), Tankless Water Heater Installation & Service (HSAOACAB), Commercial Water Heater & Boiler Service (HSAOACAJ)
Keywords
Where Essency is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oak Ridge North
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Essency business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Water Heater Hardware Sales: Essency generates revenue from the sale of its EXR and EXR-D water heater units. Products are sold exclusively through professional wholesale distribution (Ferguson) and Pro League certified installers — not through big-box retail. The primary revenue is one-time hardware purchase, with the dealer/installer setting final consumer pricing. The company also sells spare parts, repair kits, and accessories (drain pans, upgrade kits, communication modules) through its installer network.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Essency product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Essency manufactures and sells electric on-demand tank water heaters (the EXR and EXR-D models) for residential use, built on its proprietary SmartCore Technology. The product uses a 55-gallon static polymer tank as a heat source combined with a stainless steel flat-plate heat exchanger to deliver 80-gallon First Hour Rating and instant on-demand hot water. Units are sold exclusively through Ferguson wholesale distribution and the certified Pro League Network of trained professional installers, never through retail.
Product overview
Essency offers two product lines — the EXR and the EXR-D — both based on the same on-demand tank platform. The EXR is the core residential water heater delivering 80-gallon First Hour Rating in a 55-gallon footprint with WiFi connectivity and app control. The EXR-D is a smart grid-ready variant that adds Demand Response utility program enrollment for energy savings. A standard EXR can be upgraded to EXR-D with an upgrade kit and Universal Communications Module. Both products use SmartCore Technology and share the same polymer tank construction, 30-year design life, and companion MyEssency mobile app for homeowners and Pro App for installers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Essency EXR The Essency EXR is an electric, on-demand tank-type residential water heater that combines traditional tank storage capacity with tankless on-demand delivery. Using SmartCore Technology, it stores heat energy in a 55-gallon static polymer tank and transfers it to fresh domestic water through a stainless steel flat-plate heat exchanger, achieving an 80-gallon First Hour Rating in a 55-gallon footprint and supporting up to 7 back-to-back showers. Includes WiFi connectivity with the MyEssency mobile app, touchscreen interface, smart modes, and a 20-year transferable tank warranty.
- Essency EXR-D The Essency EXR-D is a smart grid-ready variant of the EXR water heater with built-in Demand Response capabilities. It allows homeowners to enroll in utility demand response programs for energy and cost savings while maintaining the same performance specifications as the EXR. A standard EXR can be upgraded to EXR-D via a simple upgrade kit plus the Universal Communications Module provided by the utility.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80-gallon First Hour Rating (FHR) in a 55-gallon physical footprint — sufficient for 7-9 back-to-back showers
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Essency
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Essency technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature8 records
Essency partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.
- FergusoncoreFerguson is the exclusive U.S. wholesale distributor for Essency water heaters. Products are available through all Ferguson branch locations and Ferguson.com for Buy Online, Pickup In Store (BOPIS). This is the sole distribution channel for the EXR and EXR-D in the United States. The partnership was established at Essency's U.S. market launch in August 2021 and has been a key driver of national distribution expansion.
- Pro League Installers (Plumbing Nerds, Blaze Air, and others)coreThe Essency Pro League is a network of licensed plumbing and HVAC contractors who have completed Essency certification training. Members gain access to exclusive training, priority support, lead generation via ServiceWhale, co-op marketing assets, and recognition as certified installers. The network drives the B2B2C distribution model, with contractors purchasing from Ferguson and installing for homeowners.
- ServiceWhalecoreServiceWhale is the contractor directory and lead generation platform integrated with Essency's Pro League program. After completing training and certification, installers are added to the ServiceWhale platform so homeowners can find and hire certified Essency installers directly. This is the primary digital channel for connecting Pro League installers with end customers.
- United Sales NW, LLCregionalCertified sales representative agency handling Essency product sales inquiries in Washington and Oregon states. Contact: 360-524-6040. Acts as a regional sales arm for the West region, supporting the expansion of Essency products into the Pacific Northwest.
- The Blumenauer CorporationregionalCertified sales representative agency handling Essency product sales inquiries in Florida east of the Apalachicola River. Contact: 407-656-7575. Acts as a regional sales arm for the Florida market.
- PHCPPROSminorPHCPPROS is a plumbing, heating, cooling, and piping industry media outlet that produced a podcast episode featuring Essency's EXR, discussing key use cases: hard water applications, seasonal homes, and high-capacity demand. The episode served as an earned media/GTM channel for brand awareness among industry professionals.
- The Green Sense Show PodcastminorThe Green Sense Show is a sustainability-focused podcast that featured Scott Isaksen, National Sales Director at Essency. The episode discussed Essency's hybrid tank-tankless design, electric vs. gas comparison, and green innovation in water heating. Served as a brand awareness channel reaching environmentally conscious consumers and industry professionals.
- GT Group (General Transmissions)coreEssency is a subsidiary of GT Group (General Transmissions), a company with over 30 years of experience designing and manufacturing high-quality industrial goods in large quantities. GT Group is headquartered in France and provides manufacturing, R&D, and corporate infrastructure support to Essency. Essency is a member of GT Group and benefits from its global manufacturing expertise and financial backing.
- Vines (Myrtle Beach)minorVines is a plumbing company in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that partnered with Essency on the Big Game Promo campaign. In 2023 and 2024, Vines gave back $250,000 and $500,000 respectively to customers after Kansas City Chiefs wins. Essency was a promotional partner for the 2025 Big Game campaign.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Essency competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bosch Thermotechnology (Bosch Home Comfort): Bosch Thermotechnology manufactures residential and commercial water heaters, including electric tankless and heat pump units, as part of a broader HVAC and home comfort portfolio. It competes with Essency in electric residential water heating as part of a much larger product line.
Direct peers
- Navien, Inc. Navien is a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency condensing tankless water heaters and combi-boilers. Its on-demand hot water positioning overlaps directly with Essency's value proposition for homeowners seeking continuous hot water.
- A. O. Smith Corporation: A. O. Smith is one of the largest North American manufacturers of residential and commercial water heaters, including electric, gas, and tankless models. It is a direct competitor to Essency in the residential electric water heater market, with far broader distribution and brand recognition.
- Bradford White Corporation: Bradford White is a major U.S. manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters, sold exclusively through professional plumbing wholesalers. Its professional-channel-only distribution mirrors Essency's Pro League strategy and makes it the closest channel-aligned competitor.
- State Water Heaters (State Industries): State Water Heaters manufactures residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters and is part of the A. O. Smith family of brands. It competes with Essency's EXR in the traditional residential electric tank replacement market.
- Rheem Manufacturing: Rheem is a leading U.S. manufacturer of water heating, HVAC, and pool heating equipment, with strong presence in both tank and tankless residential water heaters sold through plumbing wholesalers and big-box retail. Directly competes with Essency in the residential replacement market.
- Rinnai America Corporation: Rinnai is a leading manufacturer of tankless gas water heaters and more recently electric tankless and heat pump models. It is the dominant tankless brand in the U.S. and competes with the EXR's on-demand delivery value proposition.
- Stiebel Eltron USA: Stiebel Eltron is a German manufacturer of electric water heaters, including both tankless point-of-use and mini-tank models, sold through professional plumbing channels in the U.S. It is a comparable premium electric water heating specialist.
Emerging players
- EcoSmart (PexUniverse): EcoSmart sells electric tankless water heaters primarily through online and retail channels, targeting homeowners seeking on-demand hot water. It competes with Essency on the on-demand delivery value proposition but with a less differentiated, lower-priced product line.
- Heat Transfer Products (HTP): HTP manufactures high-efficiency residential and commercial water heaters and boilers, including stainless-steel tank and tankless models. It competes with Essency for premium and high-efficiency residential water heating sales through professional channels.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Essency social profiles
Digital presenceEssency compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Essency financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Essency leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Essency funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Essency M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Essency
What does Essency do?
Essency manufactures and sells electric on-demand tank water heaters (the EXR and EXR-D models) for residential use, built on its proprietary SmartCore Technology. The product uses a 55-gallon static polymer tank as a heat source combined with a stainless steel flat-plate heat exchanger to deliver 80-gallon First Hour Rating and instant on-demand hot water. Units are sold exclusively through Ferguson wholesale distribution and the certified Pro League Network of trained professional installers, never through retail.
Is Essency a public or private company?
Essency is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Essency founded?
Essency was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Essency based?
Essency is headquartered in Oak Ridge North, United States, in the North America region.
How does Essency make money?
One revenue line is on record: water Heater Hardware Sales.
Who are Essency's main competitors?
Bosch Thermotechnology (Bosch Home Comfort) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Navien, Inc., A. O. Smith Corporation, Bradford White Corporation, State Water Heaters (State Industries), Rheem Manufacturing, Rinnai America Corporation and Stiebel Eltron USA. Emerging players are EcoSmart (PexUniverse) and Heat Transfer Products (HTP).
Does Essency have an API?
No public API is recorded for Essency.
What industry is Essency in?
Essency's product category is Residential Electric Water Heaters. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAOACAA, Tank Water Heater Installation & Replacement, with a secondary code of IMAHAKAC, Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment. Its NAICS code is 33341 and its SIC code is 3585.