Skip to content
WaterHeating.caby CANRO Heating & Cooling

Comparison

Bradford White RG240T6N (40 gal) vs RG250T6N (50 gal)

Verdict in brief

Both are atmospheric-vent gas tanks under the same chimney class with the same 40,000 BTU/h input and the same UEF family. The 40-gallon RG240T6N delivers 284 L in the first hour; the 50-gallon RG250T6N delivers 307 L and costs more to buy but little more to run. Choose by your busiest-hour demand and by whether the floor and jacket width suit the bigger tank, not by family size alone.

Side by side

Published manufacturer figures with units. Storage and flow figures are different measures and are shown on their own rows; blanks mean not applicable or not published.

Comparison of Bradford White RG240T6N and Bradford White RG250T6N
SpecificationBradford White RG240T6NGas storage tankBradford White RG250T6NGas storage tank
Rated nominal volume40 US gal (33 Imp. gal, 151 L)50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L)
Rated (DOE) storage volume38 US gal (144 L)48 US gal (182 L)
First-hour rating75 US gal (284 L)81 US gal (307 L)
Recovery at 90 °F (50 °C) rise, natural gas43 US gal/h (36 Imp. gal/h, 163 L/h)43 US gal/h (36 Imp. gal/h, 163 L/h)
Input, natural gas40,000 BTU/h40,000 BTU/h
Input, propane (RG240T6X)36,000 BTU/h36,000 BTU/h
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), medium draw0.640.63
Vent connection3 in or 4 in (76 or 102 mm) draft hood3 in or 4 in (76 or 102 mm) draft hood
Water connections3/4 in NPT with dielectric waterways and heat traps3/4 in NPT with dielectric waterways and heat traps
Electrical supplyNone required (millivolt control powered by the pilot thermopile)None required (ICON System control powered by the pilot thermopile)
Height to top of heater56 5/8 in (1438 mm)56 5/8 in (1438 mm)
Jacket diameter20 in (508 mm)22 in (559 mm)
Shipping weight134 lb (61 kg)154 lb (70 kg)

“—” means not applicable to that system type or not published by the manufacturer. Flow figures are only comparable at the same temperature rise; UEF values are only comparable within the same draw pattern.

What actually separates them

The two tanks share their 40,000 BTU/h input, so recovery is identical at about 163 L/h at a 50 °C rise. The 50-gallon model's extra delivery comes almost entirely from storage: 307 L versus 284 L first-hour, a difference of about one bath. If your busiest hour sits under 284 L today, the 40-gallon tank already covers it, and the 50-gallon buys only headroom.

The RG250T6N is 22 in (559 mm) in diameter against 20 in (508 mm) for the 40-gallon tank, and 26 lb heavier. Where a replacement must roll through a tight door or stand in a narrow space, that width is the practical constraint, not the first-hour arithmetic.

UEF 0.63 (50 gal) versus 0.64 (40 gal) is a negligible difference under the same medium-draw test; both are below ENERGY STAR and neither should be compared with a legacy EF or a tankless UEF measured at a different draw pattern.

Both vent atmospherically through a 3 in or 4 in draft hood into a chimney or B-vent, draw combustion air from the room, and run without electricity. In Metro Vancouver's soft water, the anode inspection every two years matters more than scale management for both.

Bradford White · Gas storage tank

Bradford White RG240T6N

CurrentSold in Canada
Nominal capacity
40 US gal (33 Imp. gal, 151 L)
First-hour delivery
75 US gal (284 L)
Input
40,000 BTU/h

The Bradford White RG240T6N is a 40 US gallon (151 L) atmospheric-vent natural gas storage water heater with a 40,000 BTU/h input, 75 US gallon first-hour rating and UEF 0.64, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. It is the like-for-like replacement for most 40-gallon gas tanks in older Metro Vancouver homes.

Natural gasPropaneAtmospheric (draft hood)
Specifications, manuals and service

Bradford White · Gas storage tank

Bradford White RG250T6N

CurrentSold in Canada
Nominal capacity
50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L)
First-hour delivery
81 US gal (307 L)
Input
40,000 BTU/h

The Bradford White RG250T6N is a 50 US gallon (189 L) atmospheric-vent natural gas storage water heater with a 40,000 BTU/h input, 81 US gallon first-hour rating and UEF 0.63, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. It is the most common size for four-person Metro Vancouver homes replacing an existing gas tank.

Natural gasPropaneAtmospheric (draft hood)
Specifications, manuals and service

Frequently asked questions

Is a 50 gallon tank worth the extra cost?

Only if your peak hour approaches 284 L. Two showers, a dishwasher and some laundry in one hour fit in the 40-gallon tank's first-hour rating; beyond that, the 50-gallon adds about 23 L of headroom.

Will the bigger tank use much more gas?

No. Both burners are 40,000 BTU/h; a larger tank has slightly higher standby loss, visible as the 0.01 UEF difference, but usage follows your hot-water draw more than the tank size.

Not sure which one fits your home?

A consultation includes a hot-water demand review so capacity is right for your winter, not the brochure's.

On-site service in Metro Vancouver, BC. Call to check availability.

Call 604-359-1081Request a consultation

Related

Sources and verification

Facts checked September 7, 2026. Last updated September 7, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.

Call 604-359-1081Get Estimate