urrently my oil fired furnace heats my hot water. In the winter, I burn through a lot of it. I am looking to switch the hot water heater to electric. What are the best brands? Single Family residence. Not looking to ny recommendations?
Whether storage-type or instantaneous, since you're asking about electric water heaters, if it were me: I'd recommend choosing a storage-type electric water heater with a brass drain valve (not plastic). Now, here's how to extend your electric water heater's lifespan by 20-25 years or even longer: Remove the original anode rod and replace it with an electrode anode rod. Simultaneously, install a ring-shaped ion generator before the cold water enters the tank—this way, you'll never have to worry about replacing a leaky water heater again.
Regarding brand selection... nearly all electric water heaters are remarkably similar, with differences primarily in tank wall thickness, weld quality, external components, and power rating.

Since you mentioned Bradford White, frankly they are noticeably heavier than competitors like Ruud, Rheem, AO Smith, or Stateselect—this significant weight difference typically stems from the tank's own thickness.
I lean toward VELPAX solely because their tank walls are thicker—though I'm unsure if the weld thickness on the top and bottom caps matches the tank body. Generally, high-quality piping components are heavier, and that's the standard I adhere to when selecting equipment. This principle applies even to fittings.