Rheem Class Action Lawsuit: The Drain Valve Settlement and the HVAC Price-Fixing Suits
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There are two different things behind a search for a “Rheem class action lawsuit”. The one with money attached is West v. Rheem, a settlement over plastic drain valves on water heaters built 2019–2023 — its claim deadline was March 20, 2026 and has passed. The other is a set of 2026 price-fixing suits against Rheem and six other HVAC makers, which are at an early stage with no settlement and no claim form.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Rheem Lawsuits Allege
The drain valve case. The lawsuit alleges that Rheem Manufacturing Company and valve maker Melet Plastics, Inc. sold a defective round poly (plastic) drain valve — on its own and installed on water heaters made and sold between 2019 and 2023. The valves allegedly caused leaks and sudden product failure. Rheem and Melet deny any wrongdoing, and no court has found that any law was broken.
The price-fixing cases. Separate suits filed in 2026 allege that Rheem, Bosch, Carrier, Trane, Daikin, Lennox and AAON coordinated HVAC equipment price increases beginning in January 2020. The plaintiffs say the seven companies control about 90% of the U.S. market. The manufacturers that have commented deny the claims.
Case Details
The drain valve case is West v. Rheem Manufacturing Company and Melet Plastics, Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-09686-CAS-MAAx, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, before Judge Christina A. Snyder. It was filed on November 8, 2024. The court appointed CPT Group, Inc. as claims administrator; the official site is RheemDrainValveSettlement.com.
The price-fixing suits are in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The first is a consumer case, Berg v. Robert Bosch, LLC, et al., No. 26-cv-10949, filed in March 2026. A second, brought by a Florida HVAC contractor on behalf of direct purchasers, followed in April 2026. We cover those cases in detail on our Lennox class action lawsuit page.
Status as of October 2026
HVAC price-fixing suits: early stage. There is no settlement, no fund and no claim form. Nothing in these cases is payable today.
Who Is Covered
Drain valve settlement: anyone who owns or owned one of the covered drain valves, or a home or other structure in the United States where one was installed. Covered valves are round poly drain valves made 2019–2023 with part numbers in the AP12159, AP14830, AP16800, AP16838, SP12159, SP14830, SP16800 or SP16838 series. The full list is on the official site. Check the valve at the bottom of the tank, or a plumber's invoice.
Price-fixing suits: the proposed classes are people and businesses that bought HVAC equipment from the named makers since January 2020. No class has been certified, and there is nothing to sign up for.
What the Drain Valve Settlement Pays
Cash goes only to claimants with documented losses — receipts, invoices or technician reports — up to $1,500 each. All cash payments share a $500,000 cap. If valid claims exceed that, every payment is reduced proportionally. If you did not file a claim, the warranty extension is the only benefit. The HVAC price-fixing suits have no settlement, no fund and no claim form.
How cases like this one end
Our copy of the federal courts’ own case database covers 627,540 product liability personal injury casesclosed in U.S. federal district courts between 2015 and 2025:
- 21.1% ended in a settlement recorded by the court. Another 51.6% were dismissed voluntarily, which often follows a private settlement — so the real settlement share sits between 21.1% and 72.6%.
- 0.9% were decided on a motion before any trial.
- 1 in 2,164 reached a trial (0%), after a median of 27.9 months.
- Median time from filing to the end of the case: 33.6 months.
- Only 147 of them (0%) record a money award at all; the median of those is $3,875,000.
These are base rates for this type of case (federal product liability personal injury cases) — not a prediction about this lawsuit, and not legal advice. Source: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (civil), analysed by Settlement Insight. Cases heard in state courts are not included.
Rheem Class Action Timeline
- 1
November 8, 2024 — Drain Valve Suit Filed
West v. Rheem is filed in the Central District of California, No. 2:24-cv-09686, against Rheem and Melet Plastics.
- 2
November 25, 2025 — Preliminary Approval
Judge Christina A. Snyder preliminarily approves the settlement and appoints CPT Group, Inc. as claims administrator.
- 3
January 2, 2026 — Notice Published
CPT Group announces the settlement. The opt-out and objection deadline is February 20, 2026.
- 4
March 2026 — Claims Close, Price-Fixing Suit Filed
The drain valve claim deadline passes on March 20, 2026. The same month, Berg v. Robert Bosch names Rheem and six other HVAC makers in Michigan federal court.
- 5
May 11, 2026 — Final Approval Hearing
The court hears the unopposed motion for final approval, filed April 10, 2026, and the fee motion. A class member objector appears.
- 6
October 2026 — Awaiting Confirmation
No final approval order is posted on the official site. The HVAC price-fixing suits remain at an early stage with no settlement.
Three Things to Watch For
A closed water heater settlement and a big new HVAC case are an easy mix-up to exploit:
“Late claims accepted” for the drain valve deal
The claim deadline was March 20, 2026. The only administrator is CPT Group, reachable at 1-888-271-1105 or through RheemDrainValveSettlement.com. Anyone else promising to file a late claim for a fee is not part of the settlement.
“Claim your HVAC price-fixing refund”
There is no settlement in the price-fixing suits, so there is no refund to claim. A form asking for your bank details or Social Security number to “register” your air conditioner purchase is collecting data, not filing anything.
Contractors selling valve replacements as settlement work
The settlement warranty runs through Rheem's existing warranty process, and the brass valve was a claim option. A service call billed as “required by the class action” is a sales pitch. Get the part number checked first.
Rheem Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
Is there a class action lawsuit against Rheem?
Yes, more than one. The drain valve case, West v. Rheem, No. 2:24-cv-09686, has settled and its claim period closed March 20, 2026. Separately, Rheem is one of seven defendants in HVAC price-fixing suits filed in 2026 in the Eastern District of Michigan, which have not settled.
Can I still file a claim in the Rheem drain valve settlement?
No. Claims had to be submitted by March 20, 2026. Class members who did not file still get the automatic two-year parts-only warranty extension on the covered valve.
How do I know if my water heater has a covered valve?
Covered valves are round plastic drain valves made 2019–2023 with part numbers in the AP12159, AP14830, AP16800, AP16838, SP12159, SP14830, SP16800 or SP16838 series. The exact list is on RheemDrainValveSettlement.com.
When will drain valve payments be sent?
No payment date has been published. Payments can only go out after the court grants final approval and the settlement becomes final. The final approval hearing was May 11, 2026. As of October 8, 2026, we could not confirm a final approval order. CPT Group answers status questions at 1-888-271-1105.
How much money does the drain valve settlement pay?
Up to $1,500 per class member for documented losses, from a total pool capped at $500,000. If claims exceed the cap, every payment is reduced proportionally. There is no flat cash payment for people without receipts.
Is Rheem being sued for HVAC price-fixing?
Yes. A consumer suit, Berg v. Robert Bosch, No. 26-cv-10949, was filed in March 2026, and a contractor suit followed in April 2026. Both allege that Rheem and six rivals coordinated price increases from January 2020. These are allegations, and the companies that commented deny them. See our Lennox class action lawsuit page for details.
Do I need to sign up for the HVAC price-fixing case?
No. No class has been certified and there is no settlement. If that changes, a court-approved notice will explain who qualifies and how to claim. Keep your purchase invoices for HVAC equipment bought since 2020.
Is a letter or email about the Rheem settlement real?
Real notices came from CPT Group, Inc. and point to RheemDrainValveSettlement.com or the PO Box 19504 address in Irvine, CA. They never ask for a fee. If you are unsure, call the administrator at 1-888-271-1105 rather than a number in the message.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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