Reliance FPTU-50 1** vs U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1**: which uses less energy?
An asterisk in a model number stands for any character: one filing covers several variants.
At the medium draw pattern the U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1** uses 942 kWh a year and the Reliance FPTU-50 1** 970 — 28 kWh (3%) less, about 281 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 medium draw pattern.
| Figure | Reliance FPTU-50 1** | U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1** |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 3.35 | 3.45 (better) |
| Energy use per year (kWh) | 970 | 942 (better) |
| First hour rating (gal) | 66 | 66 |
| Rated storage volume (gal) | 46 | 46 |
| Installed cost range NLR REMDB | $3,011–$4,010 | $3,022–$4,110 |
| ENERGY STAR certified ENERGY STAR | yes | yes |
| Refrigerant ENERGY STAR | R-134a, GWP 1430 | R-134a, GWP 1430 |
| On the market since ENERGY STAR | 2019-04-05 | 2019-04-05 |
| CPSC recall naming it CPSC | none on file | none on file |
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19 NLR REMDB · 2026-04-01 ENERGY STAR · 2026-09-19 CPSC · 2026-09-24
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 above.
- No CPSC recall on file names either model (list checked 2026-09-24).
- 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 Reliance FPTU-50 1** since 2019-04-05, the U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1** since 2019-04-05. A sale date, not a lifespan.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1** if running cost matters most: it uses 28 kWh less a year on the same test.
- Pick the Reliance FPTU-50 1** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1**.
- Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 66 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 50-gallon heater is enough.
Each model on its own
- Reliance FPTU-50 1** 970 kWh a year
- U.S. Craftmaster HPTU-50N 1** 942 kWh a year