Ruud MRG105245 vs Vaughn Thermal ME120: which uses less energy?
At the high draw pattern the Vaughn Thermal ME120 uses 5,452 kWh a year and the Ruud MRG105245 5,512 — 61 kWh (1%) less, about 606 kWh over ten years. Both are filed as an electric tank your utility can shift to off-peak hours, 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 your utility can shift to off-peak hours at the high draw pattern.
| Figure | Ruud MRG105245 | Vaughn Thermal ME120 |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 0.9 | 0.91 (better) |
| Energy use per year (kWh) | 5,512 | 5,452 (better) |
| First hour rating (gal) | 83 | 100 |
| Rated storage volume (gal) | 101 | 107 |
| Installed cost range | not published | not published |
| CPSC recall naming it CPSC | none on file | none on file |
DOE CCD · 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).
- The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the Vaughn Thermal ME120 if running cost matters most: it uses 61 kWh less a year on the same test.
- Pick the Ruud MRG105245 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 ME120.
- Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 100 gallons of hot water — neither lists more.
Each model on its own
- Ruud MRG105245 5,512 kWh a year
- Vaughn Thermal ME120 5,452 kWh a year