WHICH A O SMITH HOT WATER HEATER???
I need to replace a 50 gallon hot water heater and would like to know if any of the plumbers or homeowners could guide me in choosing between 3 A O Smith models: The Conservationist Promax High Efficiency Promax High Recovery What are the advantages of each? I presently have an old conservationist
I need to replace a 50 gallon hot water heater and would like to know if any of the plumbers or homeowners could guide me in choosing between 3 A O Smith models:
The Conservationist
Promax High Efficiency
Promax High Recovery
What are the advantages of each?
I presently have an old conservationist
I currently have an A.O. Smith FSG 75 that has lasted over 10 yrs and showing no signs of leaking. I rather be prepared than scrambling so I’ve started to look at replacement tanks. I’ve arrived at the ProMax Plus High Recovery 75 gallon (10 yr. warranty) vs. the Vertex GPHE 50 (6 yr warranty). I know it’s pay-it-upfront with the Vertex or pay-it-over time with the ProMax with the cumulative cost nearly the same after 10 years (correct?). What do you suggest?
Yes, parkslopemom….the higher recovery uses more BTU to produce the extra hot water….about being much more expensive, a lot depends on the usage and the size of the heater being the right size. You can have an undersized smaller heater that is working overtime to keep up with the usage and running a lot of money. Or you can have a properly sized heater that is a little larger that can keep up with demand. I’d rather have the larger heater that is sized properly.
Thanks for these posts, I have also been trying to figure this out. If the High Efficiency and High Recovery are the same, but HR produces more hot water, is it much more expensive to run?
BTW I meant GCXV-50 not -59
Funny how water heater manufacturers change model #’s consistantly to mess with my wholesale brain.
I’ll be installing a GCVX-59 rgis Saturday. I wanted to sell the customer an Effex-50 but he is so happy with his existing PGXT-50 (same heater but old name) that he wants another one.
The Promax High Efficiency and the Promax High Recovery are the same heater, but the first hour ratings are different. The High Recovery will give you more hot water.
The Conservationist is just constructed a little bit differently and has a special dip tube that creates turbulance inside the tank to help prevent lime and scale build up inside the tank……they all have 10 year warranty available. The Promax is the more common model installed.
The GCVX-50 would increase the gas bill, wouldn’t it?
Forget about AO Smiths website. They just updated and restructured the whole thing and it’s a mess.
(I sell AO Smith Heaters)
Standard Conversationist XGV-50 .62 energy factor, 40,000btu, first hr rating gallons 88, recovery 90 degree rise gallons 41.
Pro-Max plus high recovery: GCVX-50 .58 energy factor, 65,000btu, first hr rating gallons 93, recovery at a 90 degree rise gallons 67.
Promax Plus High Eff.: GVR50- .62 energy factor, 40,000btu, fist hr rating gallons 88, recovery 90 degree rise gallons 41.
Hope this helps.
I’d go with the GCVX-50 for the faster recovery and BTU rating.