DoesTheMath

A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5** vs Rheem XG40T12HE40U0: which uses less energy?

At the high draw pattern the Rheem XG40T12HE40U0 uses 260 therms a year and the A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5** 264 — 4 therms (2%) less, about 41 therms over ten years. Both are filed as a gas tank, so the comparison holds. Enter your ZIP below to price the difference.


Side by side

Compared within one class only: models filed as a gas tank at the high draw pattern.

Filed and computed figures
Figure A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5** Rheem XG40T12HE40U0
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.64 0.65 (better)
Energy use per year (therms) 264 260 (better)
First hour rating (gal) 83 84
Rated storage volume (gal) 38 38
Installed cost range $1,643–$2,763 $1,702–$2,914
ENERGY STAR certified not matched not matched
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5**: 264 therms a year Rheem XG40T12HE40U0: 260 therms a year

A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5** — 264 therms a year Rheem XG40T12HE40U0 — 260 therms a year

Rheem XG40T12HE40U0 is 4 therms a year lower than A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5**.

DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

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Reliability

Not published: Reliability, failure rates and each model’s actual warranty term.

The registries these figures come from certify energy performance under a federal test; none of them records how long a unit lasts or how often it fails, so this page does not rank the two on reliability.

What is here instead:

  • The filed efficiency, capacity and tank size of both models, side by side below.
  • The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.

Which should you pick?

  • Pick the Rheem XG40T12HE40U0 if running cost matters most: it uses 4 therms less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the A. O. SMITH G6N-UT4040NVR 5** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the Rheem XG40T12HE40U0.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 84 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own