Bradford White · Upright electric (RE2) · Electric storage tank
Bradford White RE255T6
The Bradford White RE255T6 is a 55 US gallon (208 L) electric storage water heater with two 4,500 W elements, a 75 US gallon first-hour rating and a 66 W standby-loss rating, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. It is the largest standard upright in the family before the 65 and 80-gallon models.
Key figures
- Nominal capacity
- 55 US gal (46 Imp. gal, 208 L)
- First-hour delivery
- 75 US gal (284 L)
- Efficiency
- —
Nominal volume, rated volume and first-hour delivery are different figures; size by first-hour delivery.
Bradford White RE255T6 in practice
The RE255T6 is the 55-gallon member of the Canadian RE2 upright electric family, sized for the all-electric home where the slow recovery of resistance elements is offset by stored volume: its 75 US gallon (284 L) first-hour rating matches the delivery of a typical 40-gallon gas tank while keeping all of the simplicity of an electric installation.
It needs no venting, gas line or combustion air, only a dedicated 240 V circuit, and BC's plumbing code sets electric storage thermostats at 60 °C with fixtures limited to 49 °C by a mixing valve. The Canadian sheet rates the model by a 66 W standby loss rather than a UEF. Whether CANRO stocks this model for a given job is confirmed at consultation.
Best suited to
- All-electric homes and suites with heavy peak-hour demand
- Households of four or more without gas service
- Buyers planning a later heat-pump water heater swap (same location and circuit class)
Limitations to know
- Slow recovery: the tank relies on its stored volume for peaks
- Requires a dedicated 240 V circuit; no hot water during a power outage
- Electricity cost per litre of hot water is typically higher than gas in BC
- Warranty excludes labour and anode consumption; anode inspection every 2 years is required
Applicability and support
- Model number
- RE255T6
- Variants on this page
- RE255T10 (10-year warranty version)
- Canadian availability
- available
- Production status
- current
- CANRO supplies
- Confirmed at consultation
- CANRO services
- Confirmed at consultation
- Recirculation
- Not published
- Warranty
- Series terms
Storage tanks can serve a recirculation loop with an external pump and return connection; Bradford White does not publish recirculation guidance for this model, so any loop is designed at consultation.
Where CANRO provides on-site service
On-site service is currently offered across Metro Vancouver: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Langley, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, White Rock, Tsawwassen; plus Anmore, Belcarra, Lions Bay, Bowen Island, Abbotsford with travel or ferry arrangements confirmed by phone. Everything else on this site is reference information you can use anywhere in Canada.
Specifications
Published specifications
Values as published by Bradford White. Manufacturer gallon and BTU/h figures are preserved with metric alongside; notes flag conflicting documents and missing figures. Groups expand for detail.
Storage capacity 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rated nominal capacity | 55 US gal (46 Imp. gal, 208 L) | Canadian sheet C1201. Nominal, not the tested storage volume. |
Delivery and recovery 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First-hour rating | 75 US gal (284 L) | Single column on C1201. Based on the sheet's rating. |
| Recovery at 90 °F (50 °C) rise | 21 US gal/h (18 Imp. gal/h, 79 L/h) | At the standard 4,500 W element configuration (non-simultaneous operation). |
Efficiency 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standby loss | 66 W | Canadian electric tanks are rated by standby loss in watts rather than UEF; the figure is not comparable with a gas tank's UEF. |
Connections 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Water connections | 3/4 in NPT | Electrical connection is also 3/4 in NPT conduit per the sheet. |
| T&P relief valve | Factory installed |
Electrical 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Elements | Two 4,500 W elements, wired non-simultaneous (interlocking), unless otherwise specified | Per the Canadian sheet's general notes; element wattage options run from 1,500 W to 6,000 W at other voltages. |
| Electrical supply | 240 V, single phase, 60 Hz; dedicated circuit | The sheet's element table also lists 120–480 V options; a 240 V supply is the standard wiring. |
Physical 3
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Height to top of heater | 56 15/16 in (1446 mm) | Tall form. |
| Jacket diameter | 23 in (584 mm) | |
| Shipping weight | 142 lb (64 kg) |
Operating limits 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Working pressure | 150 psi (1034 kPa); tested at 300 psi (2068 kPa) | |
| Certification | UL listed |
Other 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Anode rod | Magnesium, combined with the hot-water outlet nipple | The sheet illustrates the anode with the RE255T as its example model. |
Manuals
- Canadian specification sheet C1201 — Upright Electric Residential Water HeaterC1201-0625 · 2025 · Canadian
- Limited Residential Water Heater Warranty238-39699-00ZAN
Maintenance the manufacturer specifies
- Inspect the anode rod every 2 years and replace when depleted; more often with softened water.
- Operate the T&P relief valve at least once a year to check it lifts and reseats without leaking.
- Drain about a gallon monthly to remove sediment; annual inspection by a qualified technician.
- Have a technician test the elements and thermostats when heating is slow or the tank runs out early.
Fault codes documented for this model
None documented yet.
Services
Hot water and scalding
- Water above 49 °C at a tap can scald in seconds, and children and older adults are at most risk. BC's plumbing code limits shower and bathtub water to 49 °C.
- Storage tanks are normally kept hotter (Health Canada advises 60 °C) to limit Legionella growth, with a thermostatic mixing valve tempering the water to the fixtures.
- Never bypass or remove a mixing valve, thermostat or high-limit control to get hotter water.
Official guidance: Government of Canada on water temperature and scalds and HealthLinkBC.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RE255T6 sold in Canada?
Yes. It is listed on Bradford White's Canadian electric range and on Canadian spec sheet C1201. Bradford White sells only through wholesalers, so it is supplied and installed by contractors such as CANRO.
Is 55 gallons enough for a family of five?
Its 284 L first-hour rating covers most four-person peaks; five people with overlapping showers may need the 65 or 80-gallon models, confirmed by a demand assessment.
Can the RE255T6 run without a 240 V circuit?
The standard wiring is 240 V with two 4,500 W elements. Lower-wattage element options exist for other voltages per the sheet, but a dedicated circuit sized to the elements is always required.
Questions about the Bradford White RE255T6?
Describe what the water heater is doing and get a straight answer about the next step.
On-site service in Metro Vancouver, BC. Call to check availability.
Sources and verification
- Canadian spec sheet C1201-0625 · C1201-0625 · Canadian source · accessed September 7, 2026
- Bradford White For The Pro — Upright (RE), Canada · Canadian source · accessed September 7, 2026
Facts checked September 7, 2026. Last updated September 7, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.