4 Bradford 40/50 Gallon Commercial Water Heater Reviews


bradford white direct vent water heater

During cold seasons like the winter, cold water turns to an enemy to most individuals to an extent that even the simplest tasks involving water including bathing, dishes among others become a big deal. To avoid this you must prepare enough for the winter. Bradford water heater is the water heating unit you need to install in your home, to do away with all these cold challenges. Choosing the best Bradford water heater from Bradford water heater reviews will help you get through the cold climates.

What Is the Best Bradford Water Heater on the Market?

Are Bradford Water Heaters good?

Yes, Bradford water heaters are ideal heaters to install in your home. Bradford water heaters are designed in many different models, but with a common goal of enhancing quality as well as the best user experience. There are many benefits associated with Bradford water heaters. They include:

  • High-quality products. Bradford White is well known for the quality products with a high life expectancy.
  • Great customer services. Bradford offers great customer services to both new and existing customers.
  • Products are available in many models. Bradford produces a variety of quality models to meet the varied needs of different families and individuals.

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Bradford White Water Heater?

Bradford White hot water heaters have an average life expectancy of 16.3 years out of 105 check-ins and a rating of 4/5 star life expectancy that was based on the customer reviews.

bradford white direct vent water heater

The History of Bradford White

Bradford White is an employee-owned water heater manufacturing company in America. Bradford White is one of the earliest water heater manufacturing company in the water heater industry, known for the production of both residential and commercial water heaters. The head office for Bradford White is situated in Ambler, Pennsylvania with its manufacturing department located in Middleville, Michigan. This is one of the largest and well known American manufacturers of hot water heater systems.

Bradford White Company was started way back in 1881, by the name Pennsylvania Range Boiler Company. The company’s vision was to provide the heating and plumbing industry with high-quality and exclusive products manufactured by American workers. These vision has been adhered to up to date despite the change of name.

Since 1881, Bradford White has consistently produced quality products except during the WW1 and WW2 period, where they shifted to the production of pressure vessels. In 1959, Bradford White reorganized their company and renamed it as Pennsylvania-Bradford Appliance Corporation, and later in 1968, they merged the company with White products.

In 1985, the company diversified its vision to incorporate innovation where they first produced a power-vented water heater as other innovations were done.

Water Heater Key Features and Innovations

Bradford White is a top-performing hot water heater company known by the production of high-quality products as well as their cutting edge innovations. The key features and innovations include:

bradford and white 50 gallon water heater

1. Vitraglas.

The Vitraglas feature has led to the production of extremely superior corrosion resistant heater lining. Bradford White has all their heaters lined with Vitraglas to protect the system from corrosion. The Vitraglas lining is applied to the heater tank, head, flue tube as well as the base and then fired to the steel surface at 1600° F. This innovation was used to set the glass-lined tank’s standards in the water heater industry.

2. Hydrojet total performance system.

This is another feature employed to all the Bradford White heaters. This is a unique feature in Bradford White heaters, that involves the use of an immersed tube where the inflowing cold water moves through changing jet ports. This results in a counter-rotation water movement in a turbulent design that prevents the sediments from accumulating at the bottom of the tank and forced to remain in a state of suspension. By preventing sedimentation at the bottom of the tank, Bradford White achieved a longer lasting heater as well as increased operation and energy-efficiency.

3. ICON System Gas Control Technology.

This is not just a normal pilot light in other heaters, but an exclusive ICON system control. It consists of bells-and-whistles that ensure a peak operating performance. With this, then be sure to obtain consistent and accurate water temperatures, accurate temperature differentials, a pilot “on” indicator as well as an excellent first-hour delivery. This feature also incorporates intelligent diagnostics for set-up and troubleshooting assistance.

4. The Defender Safety System.

Most water heaters are installed in garages, basements, or in a utility room. These are places where flammable liquids and other substances are stored. Bradford White considered this fact and acted accordingly towards the safety of your heater. Bradford White water heaters are designed to feature a flammable vapor ignition resistant technology for enhanced heater safety. The defender safety system features a ScreenLok technology with a patented flame arrestor. For instance, if a flammable vapor enters the heater system and ignites a flame, the flame is prevented from moving backward by the flame arrestor plate, thereby preventing the fire from reaching the outside of the heater.

5. Scale Reduction Technology.

This is a scale reduction feature employed in the Infiniti heater series. The scale reduction design prevents scaling by interrupting the water flow, and by this, the scale hotspots are reduced. By reducing the scale build-up in the system, improved heater performance is achieved, increased heater lifespan as well as reduced maintenance cost.

6. Eco-Defender Safety System.

Eco-Defender Safety System for low NOx heaters was created by Bradford White after the success of the Defender Safety System. This safety system involves the use of a different burner that is not only capable of maintaining the low NOx emission but also capable of resisting outside flammable vapors ignition.

Bradford White Warranty

Bradford White offers a limited warranty for the water heater system components including the glass-lined tank. The warranty covers any kind of malfunction and leakage with a varying warranty length depending on the heater model. It allows warranty transfer, provided that the heater place of installation is not relocated. And it also allows the user to check the warranty information for an existing heater through the Bradford White website. This simply involves entering the heater model and serial number to view the warranty length, date of manufacture, and the warranty expiry date. This is an added advantage for individuals who just moved into a new home with an existing Bradford White heater system.

Cost of Running a Water Heater

There are many costs involved with water heaters. The cost of running a water heater begins with the cost of purchase that ranges between $400 and $1,600. The next cost is the expert installation fee that costs between $150 to $600. The cost of operation depends on the heater UEF rating, Uniform Energy Factor is the measurement used by the Department of Energy for water heater energy efficiency. The higher the UEF the lower the operation cost. The fuel source is another cost of operation, the national average fuel cost is as follows: Electricity: $0.12 per kWh, Natural Gas: $1.09 per Therm, Propane: $2.41 Per Gallon.

Different prices of water heaters:

Bradford White Maintenance

Just like any other water heater, Bradford White water heaters require maintenance that can be done by the user or a professional. Bradford White heater maintenance involves the annual T&P safety valve test and sediment flushing. The anode rod should be annually checked but after a few years of operation, and finally, it is advisable to check the fittings for corrosion and leakage regularly.

Bradford White Problems

Bradford White water heaters are designed in an exceptionally high-quality design featuring solid construction and therefore no problems with the Bradford design. Problems that arise with Bradford White heaters are mainly caused by the user.

Top 4 Best Bradford White Water Heater Reviews

1. Bradford White 240V RE340T6-1NCWW 40GAL 

bradford hot water heater

Bradford White RE340T6 is a 4500-watt unit with a dimension of 20 x 20 x 62 inches and product weight of 150 pounds. The 240V model has a water capacity of 40 gallons, being among the largest Bradford White water heaters, hence ideal for families with up to four members. Bradford White RE340T6 heater is also available in other non-standard models.

This water heater system is made in a design that features a durability feature that involves the use of a protective magnesium anode rod. This rod is used to protect the unit against corrosion. This model meets the current ASHRAE Standard 90.1 b for efficiency requirements by the Department of Energy. It involves a non-simultaneous operation.

The 40 gallons electric-powered water heater is made in the United States. It is slightly hard to install, but the manufacturer provides a user manual with installation instructions. But despite this fact, Bradford White provides a separate installation package that involves expert installation but at a cost.

Pros
  • It consists of solid durable construction.
  • It features a protective magnesium anode rod hence corrosion resistant.
  • Slim design with a water capacity of 40 gallons.
Cons
  • Paid expert installation.
  • It is quite heavy.

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2. Bradford White 50 Gal Residential Water Heater

bradford white 40 gallon gas water heater

Bradford White D4504S6FSX Water Heater is the best hybrid water heater model by Bradford White with a very low operating cost compared to other hot water heaters. It is designed in a way that features high energy efficiency as well as an atmospheric vent.

The unit has a large water capacity of up to 50 gallons making it ideal for large families. This is a one-phase unit with a voltage of 115V, working pressure of 150 PSI, and a gas pressure manifold of 10.0. Bradford White D4504S6FSX Water Heater consists of 1/2-inch gas connections and 3/4-inch water connections.

It has a dimension of 64-3/4 inches height by 22 inches in diameter.

Pros
  • Low operation cost.
  • Large water capacity.
  • Energy-efficient model.
Cons
  • It requires regular cleaning.

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3. Bradford White RE340S6-1NCWW 40GAL.

bradford and white water heater

Bradford White RE340T6 water heater consists of 4500-watt unit elements with a dimension of 22 x 22 x 49 inches and product weight of 120 pounds. The 240V model has a water capacity of 40 gallons, being one of the largest Bradford White water heaters, hence ideal for families with up to four members. Bradford White RE340T6 heater consists of a slim tall solid construction. It is also available in other non-standard models.

The electric-powered 240 volts model features automated controls that include the quick responding surface-mount thermostats for controlling temperature. It also consists of a sensitive manual reset cutoff that prevents overheating. This water heater system is made in a design that features a durability feature that involves the use of a protective magnesium anode rod. This rod is used to protect the unit against corrosion. This model meets the current ASHRAE Standard 90.1 b for efficiency requirements by the Department of Energy. It involves a non-simultaneous operation.

The 40 gallons electric-powered water heater is made in the United States. It is slightly hard to install, but the manufacturer provides a user manual with installation instructions. But despite this fact, Bradford White provides a separate installation package that involves expert installation but at a cost.

Pros
  • It features a protective magnesium anode rod hence corrosion resistant.
  • Slim design with a water capacity of 40 gallons.
Cons
  • Non-simultaneous operation.
  • It is quite heavy.

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4. Bradford White RE350S6-1NCWW 50GAL.

bradford white 50 gallon gas water heater

Bradford White RE350S6 water heater is another efficient water heater unit by Bradford White with a non-simultaneous operation, that is only one element is heated at a time. This is a standard electric-powered model with 240 volts and 4500-watt elements, a product dimension of 24 x 24 x 48 inches, an item weight of 150 pounds. This model meets the current ASHRAE Standard 90.1 b for efficiency requirements by the Department of Energy.

Bradford White RE350S6 water heater system is made in a design that features an efficient direct heat transfer feature with a screw-in design. The immersed elements directly transfer heat to the water efficiently. The 240 volts model consists of non-CFC Foam insulation covering the sides and the top of the tank, this helps in minimizing heat loss hence minimal energy consumption as well as high-efficient operation.

The total performance system consists of a factory-installed hydro-jet that prevents sedimentation of the incoming cold water, reducing sediment build-up in the water tank. It also reduces temperature build-up in the tank and ensuring the first-hour provision of hot water. Bradford White RE350S6 consists of an exclusively engineered Vitraglas tank lining that enhances superior corrosion protection against the corrosive hot water.

The lining is constructed by fusing Vitraglas formula to the steel surface under 1600F degrees. The 50-gallon water capacity heater also consists of durable solid construction with a protective magnesium anode rod. This rod is used to protect the unit against corrosion for long trouble-free service.

Pros
  • 50-gallon water capacity.
  • Exclusive corrosion resistance features.
  • Energy-efficient.
  • It features factory-installed hydro-jet.
Cons
  • Non-simultaneous operation.

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Other types of water heaters you may need:

Will Montgomery

Will Montgomery: Electro-Mechanical Engineer, Serial Entrepreneur, and Real Estate Enthusiast. Met David at Penn State, where he earned a BS in Electro-Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business. Expertly manages capital equipment manufacturing, refurbishing, and repair businesses, while exploring opportunities in real estate and advocating for practical heating solutions.

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