A. O. SMITH GCRL-50 2**

The registry lists a UEF, the ratio of hot water delivered to energy used, of 0.62 for this model. This site computed the 273 therms figure from that UEF and the DOE test's daily hot-water draw for the high draw pattern. The registry does not publish the annual figure itself. It applies to natural gas only, and it was retrieved from DOE CCD on 2026-09-19. The figure is 13 therms above the 260 therms class median. In rank order, the model is 367th lowest of 414. That puts it in the highest quarter of its class for energy use. Real use will differ when a household draws more or less hot water than the test assumes.

The high draw pattern describes a larger household, or one where showers and laundry overlap. The first hour rating, the gallons of hot water available in the first hour from a full tank, is 78 gallons for this model. Its rated volume is 49 gallons. These figures describe supply, not efficiency. On efficiency, the model sits 13 therms above the class median of 260 therms. It suits a household that needs this supply and accepts gas use above that median. It does not suit a reader who wants the lowest gas use, because models ranked ahead of 367th use less. To compare, try the selector by fuel, space and size or find a same-class replacement by model number. This page holds no data on space or fit.

Running cost is not stated here because it depends on your state's average residential gas price. The cost calculator on your own ZIP applies that price to the 273 therms figure. The method behind the annual cost is documented separately. The figure assumes the high draw pattern. A household that uses less hot water will use less gas than the 273 therms figure, and one that uses more will use more. The 13 therms gap to the 260 therms class median also scales with your gas price. The modeled installed-cost range appears in its own block with its source and date. It is a modeled range, not a quote, and this text does not repeat it.