A. O. SMITH GPCX-50L 1** vs JOHN WOOD GPDX-50L 3**: which uses less energy?
At the high draw pattern the A. O. SMITH GPCX-50L 1** uses 188 therms a year and the JOHN WOOD GPDX-50L 3** 232 — 44 therms (19%) less, about 438 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.
| Figure | A. O. SMITH GPCX-50L 1** | JOHN WOOD GPDX-50L 3** |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 0.9 (better) | 0.73 |
| Energy use per year (therms) | 188 (better) | 232 |
| First hour rating (gal) | 118 | 118 |
| Rated storage volume (gal) | 49 | 48 |
| Installed cost range | not published | $2,316–$4,484 |
| ENERGY STAR certified | yes | not matched |
| On the market since | 2021-10-01 | not filed |
What it costs to run
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 A. O. SMITH GPCX-50L 1** if running cost matters most: it uses 44 therms less a year on the same test.
- Pick the JOHN WOOD GPDX-50L 3** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the A. O. SMITH GPCX-50L 1**.
- Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 118 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 50-gallon heater is enough.
Each model on its own
-
A. O. SMITH GPCX-50L 1**
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.
-
JOHN WOOD GPDX-50L 3**
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.