Bradford White · Direct vent (RG2DV) · Gas storage tank
Bradford White RG2DV50S6N
The Bradford White RG2DV50S6N is a 50 US gallon (189 L) direct vent natural gas storage water heater with a 42,000 BTU/h input, 77 US gallon first-hour rating and UEF 0.64, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. Its sealed co-axial vent needs no chimney and no electricity.
Key figures
- Nominal capacity
- 50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L)
- First-hour delivery
- 77 US gal (292 L)
- Input
- 42,000 BTU/h
- Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), medium draw
- 0.64
Nominal volume, rated volume and first-hour delivery are different figures; size by first-hour delivery.
Bradford White RG2DV50S6N in practice
The RG2DV50S6N is the 50-gallon member of the Canadian direct vent line, delivering a 77 US gallon (292 L) first-hour rating from a 42,000 BTU/h input in a tank that needs neither a chimney nor a power supply. Combustion air enters through the outer pipe of the 3 in x 5 in co-axial vent and exhaust leaves through the inner pipe, which is what lets the millivolt ICON control run without mains power.
The vent must terminate through a side wall within the manufacturer's kit limits (solid kits up to 8 ft of run, flexible kit to 100 in), and the sheet calls for a minimum of 72 1/2 in from the floor to the vent centre-line, which needs a tall enough wall. UEF 0.64 is a medium-draw rating below ENERGY STAR, and the sheet states 78% recovery efficiency for the family. Whether CANRO stocks this model for a given job is confirmed at consultation.
Best suited to
- Homes without a chimney that want a 50 US gal tank with no electrical dependency
- Like-for-like replacement of an existing 50 US gal direct vent tank
- Households of three to four people where a side-wall vent termination is possible
Limitations to know
- Vent must use the manufacturer's co-axial kits and a side-wall termination within the kit's run limits
- Minimum 72 1/2 in from floor to vent centre-line rules out low walls in some basements
- UEF 0.64 is below ENERGY STAR; a condensing tank or tankless unit is more efficient
- Warranty excludes labour and anode consumption; anode inspection every 2 years is required
Applicability and support
- Model number
- RG2DV50S6N
- Variants on this page
- RG2DV50S6X (Propane, 40,000 BTU/h); RG2DV50S10N (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 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rated nominal volume | 50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L) | Canadian sheet C1105. Nominal, not the tested storage volume. |
| Rated (DOE) storage volume | 47 US gal (178 L) | Published on the Canadian sheet C1105. |
Delivery and recovery 3
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First-hour rating | 77 US gal (292 L) | Single column on C1105, not fuel-specific. Based on AHRI directory listing. |
| Recovery at 90 °F (50 °C) rise, natural gas | 45 US gal/h (170 L/h) | The sheet states 78% recovery efficiency for the family. |
| Recovery at 90 °F (50 °C) rise, propane (RG2DV50S6X) | 43 US gal/h (163 L/h) |
Input 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Input, natural gas | 42,000 BTU/h | 12.3 kW. |
| Input, propane (RG2DV50S6X) | 40,000 BTU/h | 11.7 kW. |
Efficiency 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), medium draw | 0.64 | Per AHRI listing cited on C1105. Not ENERGY STAR (v5.0 requires UEF ≥ 0.81 for this size). |
Venting and air 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Vent connection | 3 in x 5 in (76 x 127 mm) co-axial direct vent | Closed combustion: air in the outer pipe, exhaust in the inner pipe; side-wall termination with the manufacturer's vent kits. |
Connections 3
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Water connections | 3/4 in NPT with dielectric waterways and heat traps | |
| Gas connection | 1/2 in (13 mm) | |
| T&P relief valve | Factory installed |
Electrical 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical supply | None required (millivolt ICON System control powered by the pilot thermopile) |
Physical 3
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Height to top of heater | 59 3/16 in (1503 mm) | Minimum 72 1/2 in (1842 mm) from the floor to the centre-line of the side-wall vent outlet. |
| Jacket diameter | 22 in (559 mm) | Depth 31 in (787 mm) including fittings. |
| Shipping weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
Operating limits 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Working pressure | 150 psi (1034 kPa); tested at 300 psi (2068 kPa) | |
| Certification | CSA International |
Other 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Anode rod | Magnesium, combined with the hot-water outlet nipple |
Manuals
- Canadian specification sheet C1105 — Direct Vent Residential Gas Water HeaterC1105-1125 · 2025 · Canadian
- Installation and Operation Manual — Direct Vent Gas Water Heater238-51005-00
Maintenance the manufacturer specifies
- Inspect the anode rod every 2 years and replace when depleted; more often with softened water (manual, Maintenance item 9).
- Operate the T&P relief valve at least once a year to check it lifts and reseats without leaking (item 6).
- Drain about a gallon monthly to remove sediment (item 7); annual inspection by a qualified technician.
- Inspect the vent system at least once a year; check burner flames twice a year (items 10 and 4).
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 RG2DV50S6N sold in Canada?
Yes. It is listed on Bradford White's Canadian residential gas page and on Canadian spec sheet C1105. Bradford White sells only through wholesalers, so it is supplied and installed by contractors such as CANRO.
Does the RG2DV50S6N need electricity?
No. The co-axial vent draws combustion air from outside and the millivolt control runs on the pilot's thermopile, so hot water continues during a power outage.
Can the RG2DV50S6N run on propane?
The propane version is the RG2DV50S6X with a 40,000 BTU/h input. Fuel conversion is not a field procedure; order the correct fuel version.
Questions about the Bradford White RG2DV50S6N?
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 C1105-1125 · C1105-1125 · Canadian source · accessed September 7, 2026
- Installation and Operation Manual — Direct Vent Gas Water Heater · 238-51005-00 · accessed September 7, 2026
- Bradford White — Residential Gas Water Heaters Canada · Canadian source · accessed September 7, 2026
Facts checked September 7, 2026. Last updated September 7, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.