DoesTheMath

AMERICAN GCBL-40 4** vs AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-*: which uses less energy?

At the medium draw pattern the AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-* uses 188 therms a year and the AMERICAN GCBL-40 4** 194 — 7 therms (3%) less, about 66 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 medium draw pattern.

Filed and computed figures
AMERICAN GCBL-40 4** AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-*
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.57 0.59 (better)
Energy use per year (therms) 194 188 (better)
First hour rating (gal) 68 68
Rated storage volume (gal) 38 38
Installed cost range not published $1,351–$2,012
ENERGY STAR certified not matched not matched
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

AMERICAN GCBL-40 4**: 194 therms a year AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-*: 188 therms a year

AMERICAN GCBL-40 4** — 194 therms a year AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-* — 188 therms a year

AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-* is 6 therms a year lower than AMERICAN GCBL-40 4**.

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 AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-* if running cost matters most: it uses 7 therms less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the AMERICAN GCBL-40 4** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GN40T1-3-*.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 68 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own

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