Canada-wide water heater information · On-site service in Metro Vancouver, BC
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Comparison
Verdict in brief
Two blower-vented 50-gallon Defender tanks that differ in where combustion air comes from. The RG2PV50S6N19 draws air from the room and vents exhaust only, with a longer allowable run and UEF 0.72. The RG2PDV50S6N pulls its air from outside through a second pipe, suiting tightly sealed rooms, at UEF 0.68 and a shorter 35 ft 2 in vent limit. For a normal basement with air to spare, the power vent is cheaper and more efficient; for a sealed mechanical room, the power direct vent is the one that is allowed.
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.
| Specification | Bradford White RG2PV50S6N19Gas storage tank | Bradford White RG2PDV50S6NGas storage tank |
|---|---|---|
| Rated nominal volume | 50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L) | 50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L) |
| First-hour rating | 78 US gal (295 L) | 80 US gal (303 L) |
| Recovery at 90 °F (50 °C) rise, natural gas | 44 US gal/h (37 Imp. gal/h, 167 L/h) | 43 US gal/h (36 Imp. gal/h, 163 L/h) |
| Input, natural gas | 40,000 BTU/h | 40,000 BTU/h |
| Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), medium draw | 0.72 | 0.68 |
| Vent connection | 2 in, 3 in or 4 in (51, 76 or 102 mm) PVC, ABS, CPVC or polypropylene | 2 in or 3 in (51 or 76 mm) twin pipe, PVC, ABS or CPVC |
| Maximum equivalent vent length | 50 ft (15.2 m) in 2 in; 120 ft (36.6 m) in 3 in; 200 ft (61.0 m) in 4 in | 35 ft (10.7 m) in 2 in; 85 ft (26.0 m) in 3 in; minimum 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Electrical supply | 120 VAC, 60 Hz, 3.1 A | 110 VAC, 60 Hz, 3.1 A |
| Height to top of heater | 48 3/16 in (1224 mm) | 50 9/16 in (1284 mm) |
| Jacket diameter | 24 in (610 mm) | 24 in (610 mm) |
| Shipping weight | 168 lb (76 kg) | 192 lb (87 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.
Both are Defender Safety System flammable-vapour-ignition-resistant tanks with electronic ignition and no standing pilot, on a 120 VAC, 3.1 A supply. The difference is the combustion path: the PV model draws combustion air from the room and must have the room's air supply sized for it, while the PDV model pulls air from outside through a twin pipe, which is what building officials look for in tightly sealed mechanical rooms and houses with exhaust appliances.
The room-air model is the more efficient of the pair at UEF 0.72 against 0.68, and it allows far longer vent runs: 200 ft in 4 in pipe versus the PDV's 100 ft maximum, with the intake never exceeding the exhaust on the twin-pipe unit.
Delivery is close: 295 L first-hour on the PV short form versus 303 L on the PDV short form, both at 40,000 BTU/h inputs. The PDV tank is 2 in wider (24 in jacket) and about 24 lb heavier.
Neither reaches ENERGY STAR. In Metro Vancouver homes, the power vent is the usual choice in basements with adequate air; the power direct vent appears where a recent energy retrofit has sealed the envelope or where the tank shares a small room with combustion appliances.
Bradford White · Gas storage tank
The Bradford White RG2PV50S6N19 is a 50 US gallon (189 L) through-the-wall power vent natural gas storage water heater with a 40,000 BTU/h input, 78 US gallon first-hour rating and UEF 0.72, sold in Canada under the current 19-suffix model numbers. It needs no chimney.
Bradford White · Gas storage tank
The Bradford White RG2PDV50S6N is a 50 US gallon (189 L) power direct vent natural gas storage water heater with a 40,000 BTU/h input, 80 US gallon first-hour rating and UEF 0.68, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. Twin-pipe closed combustion suits tightly sealed rooms with no chimney.
Only if the room is supplied with combustion air sized to the appliance. Where the room cannot take that air, the power direct vent's outside-air intake is the code path.
The power vent installs with a single exhaust pipe, which is usually the shorter job. The power direct vent needs two pipes or a concentric kit and has tighter length rules.
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.
Sources and verification
Facts checked September 7, 2026. Last updated September 7, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.