AMERICAN FPTU-80 1** vs VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT: which uses less energy?
At the high draw pattern the VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT uses 1,417 kWh a year and the AMERICAN FPTU-80 1** 1,438 — 21 kWh (1%) less, about 205 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 high draw pattern.
| Figure | AMERICAN FPTU-80 1** | VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 3.45 | 3.5 (better) |
| Energy use per year (kWh) | 1,438 | 1,417 (better) |
| First hour rating (gal) | 84 | 86 |
| Rated storage volume (gal) | 82 | 80 |
| Installed cost range | not published | $4,130–$4,480 |
| ENERGY STAR certified | yes | yes |
| Sound level (dB) | not filed | 54 |
| Refrigerant | R-134a, GWP 1430 | R-134a, GWP 1430 |
| On the market since | 2019-04-05 | 2025-06-01 |
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.
- 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-80 1** since 2019-04-05, the VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT since 2025-06-01. A sale date, not a lifespan.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT if running cost matters most: it uses 21 kWh less a year on the same test.
- Pick the AMERICAN FPTU-80 1** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT.
- Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 86 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 75-gallon heater is enough.
Each model on its own
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AMERICAN FPTU-80 1**
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.
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VAUGHN THERMAL MP80FHPT
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.