DoesTheMath

AMERICAN GPCT-40L 1** vs RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2**: which uses less energy?

At the high draw pattern the AMERICAN GPCT-40L 1** uses 188 therms a year and the RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2** 242 — 54 therms (22%) less, about 537 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 high draw pattern.

Filed and computed figures
Figure AMERICAN GPCT-40L 1** RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2**
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.9 (better) 0.7
Energy use per year (therms) 188 (better) 242
First hour rating (gal) 86 87
Rated storage volume (gal) 38 38
Installed cost range not published $1,993–$3,665
ENERGY STAR certified yes not matched
On the market since 2021-10-01 not filed
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

AMERICAN GPCT-40L 1**: 188 therms a year RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2**: 242 therms a year

AMERICAN GPCT-40L 1** — 188 therms a year RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2** — 242 therms a year

AMERICAN GPCT-40L 1** is 54 therms a year lower than RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2**.

DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

Report an issue with this number

Enter your ZIP to price both units on the same rate where you live.


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 GPCT-40L 1** if running cost matters most: it uses 54 therms less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the RELIANCE WATER HEATERS GPVT-40 2** if you need more hot water in your busiest hour: it lists a first hour rating of 87 gallons against 86.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 87 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own