7 components coveredField manual · Water Heater
Bradford White RE (electric) and RG (gas) residential tanks: quick sheet
Covers: Bradford White residential upright and lowboy tanks: RE-prefix electric (e.g. RE250T6 = 50 gal tall) and RG-prefix atmospheric gas (Defender Safety System). Sold through plumbing wholesalers, not big-box stores. Newer ERE models with ICON E electronic control are a different platform. Date from the serial number letters (see below).
The pro-channel tank most plumbers install. The electric RE uses the standard two-element interlocking layout plus Bradford White's Hydrojet sediment-reducing inlet. The gas RG uses a sealed combustion chamber with flame-arrestor (Defender) and an electronic gas control with a status LED on many models; gas-side work is blocked for us.
Safety first
- 240 V on RE units: lock out and verify 0 V.
- RG gas side (pilot, burner, gas control, venting) is blocked: smell gas = leave, call the gas utility; refer to a licensed gas technician.
- Never dry-fire an element.
How it works
RE electric: standard wiring is interlocking (non-simultaneous) single-phase 240 V with two 4500 W elements unless ordered otherwise; simultaneous wiring is an option and roughly doubles recovery (gal/hr).
Hydrojet: the cold inlet design swirls incoming water to reduce sediment build-up and temperature stacking and to increase first-hour delivery.
RG gas: a thermostat/gas control with a thermopile-powered electronic control lights a standing pilot and main burner; a status LED on the control flashes diagnostic patterns (codes differ by control type, so read the label on the control).
Date code: the serial number starts with two letters, first = year, second = month. Letters I, O, Q, R, U and V are skipped, and the year letters repeat every 20 years, so use the model and tank style to pick the right cycle.
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OnCall Tech is a reference tool for trained technicians and can make mistakes. Always disconnect power and confirm with the manufacturer's documentation before you work. © 2026 OnCall Tech. Original content; not a reproduction of any manufacturer document.Generic part photos (not of this brand): Integrated upright freezer with its door open showing drawers by Bilguun Gantumur, Pexels License
