A. O. Smith UPVA-80Y 1** vs Rheem SPEX8208: which uses less energy?
An asterisk in a model number stands for any character: one filing covers several variants.
At the very small draw pattern the Rheem SPEX8208 uses 615 kWh a year and the A. O. Smith UPVA-80Y 1** 628 — 13 kWh (2%) less, about 131 kWh over ten years. Both are filed as an electric tankless unit, so the comparison holds. Enter your ZIP below to price the difference.
Side by side
Compared within one class only: models filed as an electric tankless unit at the very small draw pattern.
| Figure | A. O. Smith UPVA-80Y 1** | Rheem SPEX8208 |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 0.94 | 0.96 (better) |
| Energy use per year (kWh) | 628 | 615 (better) |
| Max flow (GPM) | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Installed cost range NLR REMDB | $1,300–$1,790 | $1,306–$1,838 |
| CPSC recall naming it CPSC | none on file | none on file |
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19 NLR REMDB · 2026-04-01 CPSC · 2026-09-24
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 above.
- No CPSC recall on file names either model (list checked 2026-09-24).
- The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the Rheem SPEX8208 if running cost matters most: it uses 13 kWh less a year on the same test.
- Pick the A. O. Smith UPVA-80Y 1** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the Rheem SPEX8208.
- Neither if you need more than 0.8 GPM at the same time — neither unit lists more. Check how to size a tankless unit by GPM.
Each model on its own
- A. O. Smith UPVA-80Y 1** 628 kWh a year
- Rheem SPEX8208 615 kWh a year