AMERICAN FPTU-50 1** vs BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-*****: which uses less energy?

At the medium draw pattern the BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-***** uses 944 kWh a year and the AMERICAN FPTU-50 1** 970 — 25 kWh (3%) less, about 254 kWh over ten years. Both are filed as an electric tank, 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 tank at the medium draw pattern.

Filed and computed figures
Figure	AMERICAN FPTU-50 1**	BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S-****
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor)	3.35	3.44 (better)
Energy use per year (kWh)	970	944 (better)
First hour rating (gal)	66	65
Rated storage volume (gal)	46	45
Installed cost range	$3,011–$4,010	$2,989–$4,090
ENERGY STAR certified	yes	yes
Refrigerant	R-134a, GWP 1430	R-134a, GWP 1430
On the market since	2019-04-05	2022-12-01

DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

AMERICAN FPTU-50 1** — 970 kWh a year BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-***** — 944 kWh a year

BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-***** is 26 kWh a year lower than AMERICAN FPTU-50 1**.

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.
Both are ENERGY STAR certified, which requires a manufacturer warranty of at least six years; the actual term for each model is not published.
Time on the market, as filed with ENERGY STAR: the AMERICAN FPTU-50 1** since 2019-04-05, the BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-***** since 2022-12-01. A sale date, not a lifespan.

Which should you pick?

Pick the BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-***** if running cost matters most: it uses 25 kWh less a year on the same test.
Pick the AMERICAN FPTU-50 1** if you need more hot water in your busiest hour: it lists a first hour rating of 66 gallons against 65.
Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 66 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own

AMERICAN FPTU-50 1**

Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.
BRADFORD WHITE RE2H50S*-*****

Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.