DoesTheMath

AMERICAN GDVNL-40L 1** vs AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-*: which uses less energy?

At the medium draw pattern the AMERICAN GDVNL-40L 1** uses 182 therms a year and the AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-* 185 — 3 therms (2%) less, about 30 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 GDVNL-40L 1** AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-*
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.61 (better) 0.6
Energy use per year (therms) 182 (better) 185
First hour rating (gal) 64 64
Rated storage volume (gal) 38 38
Installed cost range $1,468–$2,313 $1,410–$2,162
ENERGY STAR certified not matched not matched
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

AMERICAN GDVNL-40L 1**: 182 therms a year AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-*: 185 therms a year

AMERICAN GDVNL-40L 1** — 182 therms a year AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-* — 185 therms a year

AMERICAN GDVNL-40L 1** is 3 therms a year lower than AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-*.

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 GDVNL-40L 1** if running cost matters most: it uses 3 therms less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the AMERICAN STANDARD WATER HEATERS GSN40L2-3-* if the installed price matters more than the running cost: its modeled installed range is $1,410–$2,162 against $1,468–$2,313.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 64 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own

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