DoesTheMath

BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-***** vs RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1**: which uses less energy?

At the high draw pattern the RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1** uses 5,278 kWh a year and the BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-***** 5,334 — 57 kWh (1%) less, about 567 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.

Filed and computed figures
BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-***** RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1**
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.93 0.94 (better)
Energy use per year (kWh) 5,334 5,278 (better)
First hour rating (gal) 75 75
Rated storage volume (gal) 55 55
Installed cost range $1,872–$2,495 $1,879–$2,711
ENERGY STAR certified not matched not matched
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-*****: 5,334 kWh a year RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1**: 5,278 kWh a year

BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-***** — 5,334 kWh a year RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1** — 5,278 kWh a year

RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1** is 56 kWh a year lower than BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-*****.

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 RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1** if running cost matters most: it uses 57 kWh less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the BRADFORD WHITE RE255T*-***** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the RELIANCE WATER HEATERS HETF-55 1**.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 75 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 50-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own

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