Ruud PROPH40 T0 RH120-M vs VAUGHN THERMAL ME-40: which uses less energy?
At the low draw pattern the Ruud PROPH40 T0 RH120-M uses 802 kWh a year and the VAUGHN THERMAL ME-40 2,439 — 1,638 kWh (67%) less, about 16,379 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 low draw pattern.
| Figure | Ruud PROPH40 T0 RH120-M | VAUGHN THERMAL ME-40 |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 2.8 (better) | 0.92 |
| Energy use per year (kWh) | 802 (better) | 2,439 |
| First hour rating (gal) | 45 | 46 |
| Rated storage volume (gal) | 36 | 37 |
| Installed cost range | not published | $1,605–$1,828 |
| ENERGY STAR certified | yes | not matched |
| Refrigerant | R-134a, GWP 1430 | not filed |
| On the market since | 2022-04-21 | not filed |
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 below.
- The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the Ruud PROPH40 T0 RH120-M if running cost matters most: it uses 1,638 kWh less a year on the same test.
- Pick the VAUGHN THERMAL ME-40 if you need more hot water in your busiest hour: it lists a first hour rating of 46 gallons against 45.
- Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 46 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.
Each model on its own
-
Ruud PROPH40 T0 RH120-M
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.
-
VAUGHN THERMAL ME-40
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.