What better way to kick off a freezing winter day than with a warm morning shower? Water heaters let you skip the frustration of not having hot water when you need it. For most households, 50-gallon water heaters strike the perfect balance between enough capacity and a compact footprint. Also, the gas-powered options are more energy efficient; that’s why we compiled a list of the best 50-gallon gas water heaters to let you welcome winter with open arms.
Best 50-Gallon Gas Water Heaters
- Eccotemp FVI12-LP (Editor's Choice)
- AO Smith GPVL-50 ProMax
- AO Smith GDVT-50 ProMax Direct Vent
- AO Smith GPVL-50 ProLine XE
- Bradford White RE350T6
- Rheem Performance Platinum
- Westinghouse WGR050NG076
- Rinnai RUC98iN
The 8 Best 50-Gallon Gas Water Heaters
There is a wide variety of water heaters to choose from, which makes the purchase decision a bit tricky for the uninitiated. You want to pick a high-quality water heater built with longevity in mind, in addition to a power-efficient operation to keep your bills in check. Without any further ado, let’s jump right into the water heater reviews and help you pick the model that suits your demand for hot water.
1. Eccotemp FVI12-LP
Eccotemp decides to ditch water storage tanks with its FVI12-LP heater. This way, it delivers hot water on-demand while keeping a compact footprint that can fit easily in small houses, offices, and cabins. The moment you open the heater’s water supply, you’ll be getting hot water on the other end. Yes, it’s that instantaneous!
In terms of energy consumption, the FVI12-LP electric water heater uses propane gas together with a safe electronic ignition system that kicks into action only when you’re using the heater. This makes it one of the most energy-efficient options on the market. It can be plugged into any standard 120v electrical outlet without the need for a proprietary high-energy source. This product shows great energy efficiency.
Furthermore, the digital display on these electric water heaters makes a huge difference. You can always glance at the real-time readings for where your temperature is at and then tweak the settings to your liking.
Another advantage that sometimes goes under the radar, although it drastically improves the FVI12-LP experience, is its quietness. The electric water heater produces significantly less noise than many of its counterparts, so you never feel like you have a roaring jet engine at home every time you turn on your heater.
Your trusty new FVI12-LP is set to meet the hot water heater demands for most households thanks to its 3.6 GPM (gallon per minute) flow rate. It uses the standard 1/2" NPT water fittings to ensure the installation process is as straightforward as possible.
Pros:
- Efficient model operation
- Safe electronic ignition system
- The digital temperature display is easily readable
- Compact design, making it suitable for small offices and cabins
- Quiet operation
- User-friendly installation
Cons:
- With a minimum flow rate of 0.65 GPM, you get inconsistent results with sinks
- Its heating water system isn’t robust enough for freezing temperatures
2. AO Smith GPVL-50 ProMax
If you’re looking for a water heater with precise temperature controls, AO Smith has got you covered with its GPVL-50 ProMax.
The 50-gallon gas water heater comes with an internal microprocessor, delivering accurate temperature readings. This means you have more control over the water’s temperature and can keep it locked to a specified value with no hassles.
In order to keep a uniform temperature within the tank, the heater implements Dynaclean II technology into its diffuser dip tube. This allows for better optimization of the inlet water pressure and reduces cold spots within the water storage tank.
In recent years, we’ve seen AO Smith pay closer attention to its products’ carbon footprint, and the GPVL-50 ProMax is no different. It uses an environmentally-friendly foam layer for insulation, minimizing the heat loss and helping keep the heater’s energy consumption in check. Such great energy efficiency.
Furthermore, the heater depends on a hot-surface ignitor for its operation rather than the regular standing pilot. This way, you won’t need as much maintenance for your AO Smith GPVL-50 ProMax, as the ignitor in use is more durable and robust.
It’s also worth mentioning that AO Smith has taken some considerable safety precautions with its heaters. The GPVL-50 lineup comes with special built-in sensors that can detect the presence of any flammable vapors and instantly disable the gas burner to prevent ignition.
Finally, you won’t have to make any drastic changes to your plumbing system, as the blower outlet is rotatable into three different positions, making the installation process effortless and easy.
Pros:
- Follows Energy Star high-efficiency standards
- Provides enough hot water supply to cover the needs of a family of five
- The gas burner is rated at 40,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit)
- Rotatable blower outlet
- Six-year limited warranty
- Safety sensors to detect flammable vapors
- Eco-friendly foam insulation
Cons:
- On the pricey side
- Becomes noisy when the exhaust vent kicks into action
3. AO Smith GDVT-50 ProMax Direct Vent
AO Smith manages to deliver a budget tank electric water heater that checks all the basics. It even comes at a burner rating of 47,000 BTU exceeding that of its more expensive big brother: the GPVL-50 ProMax.
The GDVT-50 ProMax Direct Vent is built around ease of maintenance. The 50-gallon gas electric water heater comes with a dedicated female hose that delivers day and night difference when it comes to draining any residues inside the tank. In addition to notifying you on the water heater’s status of operation, the LED indicator delivers insight on the service diagnostics as well.
The DynaClean diffuser dip tube also finds its way into the GDVT-50 ProMax, and this time around, in addition to reducing the cold spots inside the electric water heater tank, it reduces corrosive sediments’ build-up.
The heating circuit also comes with a reliable power direct venting system to maintain excellent air circulation around your 50-gallon gas water heater. This way, asphyxiant gases never have the time to build up and create respiratory issues in enclosed spaces.
AO Smith brings some innovations to the table in terms of how it powers its GDVT-50 ProMax heater. The power-efficient anode rod and the self-powering gas valve combine to offer one of the most reliable gas and electric power systems in a hot water heater.
Though AO Smith’s budget electric water heater isn’t Energy Star compliant, it still comes with a decent energy factor of 0.61. Without finding ourselves deep into jargon territory, when it comes to energy consumption, it’s safe to say that the GDVT-50 ProMax is one of the best 50-gallon gas heaters at this price range.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Impressive burner rating of 47,000 BTU maximum gas input
- Ease of maintenance thanks to the dedicated female hose drainage
- Robust venting system for maximum safety
- Energy-efficient operation
Cons:
- The LED indicator is not always reliable
4. AO Smith GPVL-50 ProLine XE
Unless the GPVL-50 lineup was one of AO Smith’s most popular 50-gallon water heaters, we wouldn't have seen that many revisions and iterations that such models receive from time to time. Though the ProLine XE shares tons of similarities with its ProMax counterpart, it provides some welcome additions.
Let’s get the similarities out of the way first. The two models share the same precise temperature controls and high-efficiency operation. They even come with the same energy factor value of 0.72, earning them an Energy Star qualified label.
Such a parameter measures the amount of energy that the gas electric heater uses to actually heat water compared to the total energy that goes into powering it.
The two 50-gallon water heaters are also capable of providing enough hot water for three simultaneous showers. Moreover, if you feel like taking all the time you need in the morning, you can spend over 30 minutes in the bathtub before running out of hot water.
The ProLine XE adds a stainless steel core to its anode rods, which helps boost the heater’s longevity. In addition to the 2-inch foam insulation, the ProLine XE comes with additional heat traps along its inlet and outlet pipes to reduce heat loss even further.
Unfortunately, it’s not all pink and roses, as the ProLine XE presents with some drawbacks. The heater is liable to corrosion between the water tank and the hot water pipes. We hope to see AO Smith’s flagship blue diamond glass coating find its way to the GPVL-50 lineup in the future to solve such issues once and for all.
Pros:
- Efficient performance
- Enough to meet a family of five demand for hot water
- Environmentally-friendly foam insulation
- The anode rods come with stainless steel cores
- Heat traps along inlets and outlets
Cons:
- Subpar corrosion resistance
5. Bradford White RE350T6
By now, you can tell that energy consumption is high up on the priorities list of gas water heater manufacturers, and they’re always trying to pull off some tricks to deliver on that premise. Bradford White provides one of its most efficient gas water heaters yet with its RE350T6 model.
The 50-gallon water heater hits an energy factor of 0.95, which is a testament to the engineering prowess put into designing such a heater. It’s also worth mentioning that the RE350T6 includes 4500-watt heating elements, which means you don’t need any external electricity supply to power its Piezo igniter.
When it comes to durability, the 50-gallon gas water heater uses a protective magnesium anode rod to offer excellent corrosion resistance and give you peace of mind down the line.
Just like the AO Smith’s GPVL-50 lineup, the RE350T6 comes with thick insulating foam to minimize heat loss, this means less energy costs needed to maintain its temperature. Such a foam layer is made of non-CFC materials to cut down on harmful carbon products.
Furthermore, a second insulating layer that offers less energy usage is put in place to serve an entirely different purpose. The thermopolymer coating prevents contact between the temperature sensor and the water inside the tank to ensure the least interference with the thermostat’s readings.
Finally, the natural gas water heater comes with a robust diagnostics system. You can get various troubleshoot codes on the LED display, and each is specific to a particular issue. This ensures you receive the most appropriate support upon asking for maintenance.
Pros:
- Natural gas-powered
- Ultra high energy efficiency
- Doesn’t require an external electric source to power the igniter
- Non-CFC foam to minimize heat loss
- Smart diagnostics system through the LED display
Cons:
- Non-simultaneous operation
6. Rheem Performance Platinum
We can’t help but be proud as the eco-friendly movement steadily becomes the norm in the water heaters space. Rheem’s flagship 50-gallon gas water heater, the Performance Platinum, adopts a well-thought-out internal design to keep NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) to the absolute minimum. Such a feature becomes possible thanks to the eco-friendly burner used by the gas water heater.
It’s also worth mentioning that the burner is self-igniting, so you don’t have to stumble around for matches each time you want to turn on your water heater.
The hot water flow rate is another area where the Rheem Performance Platinum heaters shine. Such 50-gallon water heaters easily deliver a first hour rating of 79 gallons of water. In other words, you get enough hot water to run a washing machine if you want in order to make use of the heat to remove challenging stains.
By now, it comes as no surprise to see an embedded gas control system meant to give you a more comprehensive look at your heater’s maintenance status. This way, you ensure your gas water heater remains safe throughout its operation and notifies you ahead when it’s time to seek service.
Finally, the Rheem Performance Platinum shares some key features with the Bradford White 50-gallon RE350T6 heater. The two work with natural gas and use corrosion-resistant magnesium anodes. This shows how manufacturers are ready to adopt new technologies in their design once they prove to be effective.
Pros:
- Environmentally-friendly design with minimal NOx emissions
- The hot water tank doesn’t come with a filter that requires special treatment
- Comes with an energy factor of 40,000 BTU
- A natural gas water heater
- The patented magnesium anodes deliver better corrosion resistance
Cons:
- Your limited warranty becomes invalid unless you install the gas water heater through Rheem-certified technicians
7. Westinghouse WGR050NG076 
If you’re looking for a stylish 50-gallon water heater that doesn't feel out of place wherever you decide to place it, Westinghouse delivers just that with its WGR050NG076 model. The faux stainless steel finish brings premium aesthetics that we don’t necessarily see that often in water heaters.
When it comes to first hour rating, the WGR050NG076 takes it above and beyond what most 50-gal heaters deliver. You can get up to 133 gallons per hour of hot water, which is quite impressive given the tank’s capacity.
It also delivers an incredibly fast recovery rate, which means even when your water tank is fully drained, the 50-gallon water heater won’t take much time to refill and heat the cold water stored inside.
The level of energy efficiency you get here even exceeds the impressive numbers we’ve seen with the Bradford White RE350T6. At a thermal efficiency rating of 97%, the WGR050NG076 sets water heating industry standards and is the perfect match for households water heating system on tight budgets.
Furthermore, the unique tank design allows such a 50-gal gas heater to follow a different approach in how it heats water. The WGR050NG076 depends mainly on the concept of condensation in its operation.
The absence of an anode core is another welcome departure. Even with corrosion-resistant coatings put in place to protect the anode rods inside, the time will come when they’ll need replacement. The fact that you don’t have to put up with such inconveniences here with the Westinghouse 50-gallon water heater makes it a worthwhile option to be considered.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that you get a seven-year warranty with your purchase. You can extend the limited warranty even further to ten years if you register your purchase online. This ensures you’re covered down the line just in case anything goes south.
Pros:
- Stylish, stainless steel tank design
- An impressive first hour rating of 133 gallons of hot water
- Energy efficiency sitting at 97%
- Doesn’t use anodes in its ignition circuit
- Depends on condensation technology in its operation
Cons:
- A relatively expensive setup process
8. Rinnai RUC98iN
We’ll wrap up our list with yet another tankless model heater. The Rinnai RUC98iN comes in two different models; a residential and a commercial one for residential and commercial applications. The residential option allows you to tweak the water’s temperature anywhere between 98 and 140 degrees, while the commercial model pushes the temperature’s cap up to 180 degrees.
Though you’re not backed up by a tank that keeps hot water stored at all times, the RUC98iN has a high flow rate of 9.8 GPM, which is enough to serve a washing machine and at the same time, meet the demands of an entire family.
Furthermore, expect the installation cost of such a tankless 50-gallon water heater to be more on the pricey side. However, it’ll pay for itself in the long run as it uses less natural gas than its water tank counterparts. It’s also compact and quiet, so you won’t have to constantly hear water cracking inside the tank.
Rinnai makes the package even more enticing with its generous 12-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger parts. Let’s be real; if anything has to happen to a tankless water heater, it ought to have something to do with the heat exchanger.
Pros:
- Offers a residential and a commercial model
- High flow rate
- Quiet operation
- Compact footprint
- 12-year warranty for the heat exchanger
Cons:
- Costly installation process
9. Other models we looked at include
We also looked at the following popular 50-gallon gas water heaters which are high efficient water heaters that reduces energy consumption in our review rating:
6 50 UBVIT, AO Smith GCR-50 ProMax Plus and AO Smith GDHE-50-NG Heater.
How to Choose a 50-Gallon Gas Water Heater
You can’t just depend on a single parameter when choosing the best 50-gallon gas water heater, as many interconnected factors come into play to make or break a heater. In this segment, we’re breaking down the most important factors to keep in mind before finalizing your purchase decision.
First Hour Rating
This is probably the most important feature upon which people base their water heater purchases. For starters, first hour rating is a measure of the amount of hot water you can get out of your heater per hour. Most 50-gallon water heaters have a rating falling anywhere between 60 to 80 gallons per hour. This should be enough for most households.
You should also keep an eye on whether the 50-gallon water heater you opt for supports simultaneous use. For instance, the Bradford White RE350T6 doesn’t support concurrent use, so if you have multiple bathrooms in your home and people want to take a shower at the same time, you’re out of luck with this particular model.
Energy Consumption
The last thing you need is to introduce a power-hungry heater to your home and see your electricity bill skyrocket. Water heater manufacturers seem to hear our concerns, and they’re all implementing different technologies to make their gas heaters as efficient as possible.
Insulation has a significant role in keeping heat loss to a minimum and, therefore, decreasing the energy costs needed to reheat water in the storage tank water heater. For example, the Bradford White RE350T6 and the AO Smith GPVL-50 lineup come with a thick foam layer to boost energy efficiency.
Furthermore, we see some heaters implement unique inlet and outlet gas valve designs meant to trap heat pump within their circuit.
It’s also worth mentioning that you’ll come across some heaters with the Energy Star qualified label. These models follow a set of strict criteria put by the US Department of Energy. Such select models are 15% more efficient than the minimum federal standards.
Size
Generally speaking, the 50-gallon gas water heater are relatively compact and can easily fit in most houses. However, if you’re limited by an extremely tight space, you can always consider tankless water heaters like the Eccotemp FVI12-LP.
Such a tankless water heater manages to maintain an even more compact footprint as it doesn’t have to allocate space for an entire 50-gallon storage tank. Instead of storing then heating water, these models use a heating element to warm up the water as it flows through the pipe system.
Maintenance
Longevity is a crucial factor you have to keep in mind before favoring one heater over the other. You want to install your water heater and quickly forget about it afterward. In terms of corrosion resistance, some models come with stainless steel water tanks to reduce the risk of rust-related issues.
Furthermore, the anode rod coating is another strategy that water heater manufacturers implement. The Bradford White 50-gallon RE350T6 heater adds a magnesium coating to its anode rods for added protection.
Also, many heaters come with an LED display that sets you onto the right path when it comes to troubleshooting. You can receive plenty of different codes depending on the particular issue that your 50-gallon water heater is facing, which makes the whole support process more seamless and timely.
Fuel Type
All the heaters featured on our list depend on gas as their heating element to produce hot water. Nevertheless, you still need an energy source to ignite this gas and prime the heating process. Such energy can be in the form of solar, electrical, geothermal, or even fuel oil. That’s where the categories of gas and electric water heaters come from.
Speaking of the actual gas at the core of the water heating system, you get models powered by burnable propane or natural gas. Keep an eye on whether the model you opt for supports gas tanks or requires a direct connection to your home’s gas circuit and see which makes more sense to your setup.
Safety
Gas heaters have come a long way in terms of safety. People have always been concerned about the health impact of such heaters; that’s why manufacturers had to implement plenty of safety precautions to restore their consumers’ trust.
For example, the gas control and detection of AO Smith GPVL-50 ProMax. It has a dedicated sensor to detect any flammable gases that can build up in its circuit. Once the 50-gallon water heater detects any, the ignition circuit is disabled automatically.
Furthermore, other models like the GDVT-50 ProMax Direct Vent come with a robust vents’ system to ensure you’re getting proper air circulation around your heater and don’t end up with asphyxiant gases building up inside your home.
Such systems come hand in hand with a reliable pipe architecture that prevents any potential gas leakage. A pressure relief valve can also come in handy to prevent the pressure inside the heater’s pipes from getting out of hand.
What Are the Differences Between Gas and Electric Heaters?
There are some fundamental differences between gas and electric water heaters. Let’s explore such distinctions for you to make sure that the 50-gallon gas heater for central heating that caught your attention from our list is the perfect way to go.
Electric Water Heaters
Generally speaking, electric models water heaters are the more affordable option upfront, making them the popular choice for many people. However, don’t be deceived by the lower entry price, as you’ll be spending more money in the long run.
Since such electric heaters depend on large metal coils to heat cold water inside the tank, they require more electricity until the coil becomes hot enough. This brings us to the second disadvantage: the slow recovery rate.
Such a recovery rate means that cold water takes much longer before it even warms up a bit compared to gas heaters. You’ll have to be more vigilant in ensuring that your heater has enough hot water ahead of your morning showers.
It’s not all bad though, as electric water heaters don’t require as much maintenance as their gas counterparts. Their entire water heater's operation depends on the electric current going through a circuit, so not much can go wrong.
Gas Water Heaters
On the other hand, gas powered water heaters can be more expensive to purchase, but they’re more energy-efficient in the long run. Natural gas, butane and propane aren’t as expensive as electricity, so you’ll be saving down the line for the money you spent to purchase the space heater unit.
Gas water heaters use a burner that kicks into action each time the water temperature inside the tank falls below a preset level. This ensures your water is always hot and ready to be used.
Furthermore, the recovery rate is another parameter that makes gas water heaters the ideal option, especially in the setting of a large family. You won’t have to wait too long before your gas heater starts giving out hot water, and this is even more evident in tankless water heaters that instantly warms up water as it goes through their pipes.
Our Verdict
We hope our comprehensive guide has already set you on the right path to picking the best 50-gallon gas water heater that meets your needs. Eccotemp’s tankless water heater, the FVI12-LP, immediately stands out among the rest for its high efficiency, compact footprint, automatic operation, and digital display. The easy setup is the icing on top that earns it our top spot.
Furthermore, if you want to keep an eye on your carbon footprint, and do your part for the environment, consider picking one of the eco-friendly options. The Rheem Performance Platinum and the AO Smith GPVL-50 models cut down on the harmful emissions and replace carbon products with more sustainable materials.
People on a tight budget will be more than happy with what AO Smith offers with its GDVT-50 ProMax heater. It delivers on all the basics without any deal-breaking compromises while keeping its price within most families’ budgets.
Finally, Westinghouse WGR050NG076 goes on a different route compared to the competition. It rocks a stylish look that seamlessly blends with your interior design. It also delivers stunning first hour and recovery rate, which is more than enough to cover a large family’s hot water demands.
