DoesTheMath

Ruud MR50245 C vs VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT: which uses less energy?

At the medium draw pattern the VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT uses 939 kWh a year and the Ruud MR50245 C 3,569 — 2,631 kWh (74%) less, about 26,307 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.

Filed and computed figures
Ruud MR50245 C VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.91 3.46 (better)
Energy use per year (kWh) 3,569 939 (better)
First hour rating (gal) 57 58
Rated storage volume (gal) 50 47
Installed cost range not published $3,056–$4,129
ENERGY STAR certified not matched yes
Sound level (dB) not filed 54
Refrigerant not filed R-134a, GWP 1430
On the market since not filed 2023-09-01
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

Ruud MR50245 C: 3,569 kWh a year VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT: 939 kWh a year

Ruud MR50245 C — 3,569 kWh a year VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT — 939 kWh a year

VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT is 2,630 kWh a year lower than Ruud MR50245 C.

DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

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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 VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT if running cost matters most: it uses 2,631 kWh less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the Ruud MR50245 C if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the VAUGHN THERMAL ME50HPT.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 58 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 50-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own

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