The higher the ratings -- the lower the energy use.
There are so many ways that water heaters are rated that when all are put together they can appear like a bowl of alphabet soup. BTU, EF, GPM, GPH, FHR represent common acronyms for how water heaters are rated. Once you know what those letters stand for, that information can be used to make the best purchasing decision. And, you can lower the amount of money spent when the utility bill arrives and payment is marked "due."
EF Rating
The EF acronym stands for "Energy Factor," which describes the amount of energy the water heater uses that actually converts into useful energy to produce hot water. Units with an EF higher than .67 will exceed the minimum EF required to qualify as an Energy Star-rated water heater. Energy Star is a government program that helps businesses and consumers protect the environment through energy efficiency. When shopping, look for and compare the EF rating for every model being considered.
FHR
FHR stands for "first hour rating," and indicates how much hot water thd unit can provide within the first hour of use. The FHR rating factors how much water the tank has stored at the beginning of the day, and how much water it can refill. The minimum FHR for a water heater to obtain the minimum Energy Star rating for efficiency is 67, as of September 10, 2010. For example, if a water heater starts with 30 gallons of water inside the tank at the beginning of the day and can heat 40 gallons of water in one hour, it would have a 70 FHR rating and rate high because it exceeds the Energy Star rating requirement.
GPH and GPM
The FHR refilling and reheating capacity of the water heater is rated in terms of its GPH (gallons per hour) and GPM (gallons per minute). A storage tank water heater that has a rating higher than .67 will exceed the minimum required for an Energy Star rating. Tankless water heaters are rated on gallons per minute (GPM), and one that has a rating higher than .82 will rate higher than the minimum for an Energy Star label. There are many tankless gas water heaters on the market that have GPM ratings higher than .94, and some go as high as .98.
Highest Rated Water Heater Types
The four basic types of water heaters are conventional storage water heaters, tankless, condensing water heaters and heat pumps. The Energy Star program sets minimum requirements for energy efficiency based on the EF, FHR, GPH and GPM for water heaters. Not all water heaters meet the minimum ratings set by the Energy Star program. Therefore, if a water heater surpasses the Energy Star minimum, it is viewed as having a high rating. Tankless water heaters and condensing water heaters -- whether they are gas-fueled or electric powered -- have the highest ratings in comparison to conventional storage water heaters.
High Rated Models and Manufacturers
EnergyStar.gov publishes a list of all water heater models that meet and exceed ratings requirements. Manufacturers with multiple models that consistently exceed ratings requirements include American, A.O. Smith, Rheem, Rudd, State Water Heaters, Sure Comfort, Takagi, U.S. Craftmaster, and Wai Wela, as of August 2011.
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