Bradford White RG250T6N 50-Gallon Residential Gas Water Heater

The Bradford White RG250T6N 50-Gallon Residential Gas Water Heater is the classic Bradford White atmospheric gas tank — the model your plumber installed in 1995 and the model they're still installing in 2026 (with modernized FVIR burner). The "RG" prefix denotes Bradford White's traditional residential gas line; the T6N suffix is the 6-year warranty natural-gas variant. 50 gallons, 75 GPH first-hour delivery, atmospheric vent.

Headline specifications

• Capacity: 50 gallons
• Fuel: Natural gas, atmospheric vent
• BTU input: 38,000 BTU/h
• First Hour Delivery: 75 GPH
• Recovery: 38 GPH at 90°F rise
• UEF: 0.61
• Warranty: 6-year tank/parts
• Anode: magnesium
• Dimensions: 61" H × 22" diameter
• FVIR-compliant burner chamber

Who this model is for

The RG250T6N is the workhorse residential atmospheric gas tank — the volume install for 3–4 person households when your licensed plumber gets called for a like-for-like replacement and doesn't recommend an upgrade. Functionally identical to the Defender Safety System 50G — same FVIR burner, same 6-year warranty, same form factor. The RG250T6N is the legacy model designation; Defender is the modern branding for the same chassis.

Right buyer profile: homeowner accepting a plumber-recommended replacement, prioritizing install speed and Bradford White's tank-longevity reputation over diagnostic features (ICON) or low-NOx compliance (Eco-Defender).

Where it beats the alternatives

Vs Defender 50G: functionally identical. Both 6-year warranty, FVIR compliance, atmospheric vent. The RG250T6N is the older model number still listed in plumber-channel distribution; Defender is the marketing-friendly name. Choose by what your distributor stocks.

Vs AO Smith Signature Premier 50G ($899): Bradford White ~$200 more from plumber. AO Smith 9-year warranty vs 6-year. Bradford White's longer tank life argument vs AO Smith's longer warranty.

Vs Rheem Performance Platinum 50 Gas ($1,049): Rheem ships 12-year warranty + EcoNet WiFi at the same price tier. Bradford White RG250T6N is the choice of plumbers; Rheem Platinum is the choice of tech-forward homeowners.

Where it falls short

0.61 UEF is bottom-of-class. Operating cost: $280–$350/year for 3–4 person households.

6-year warranty looks short next to AO Smith 9-year and Rheem 12-year at the same capacity. Bradford White compensates with reputation but not on paper.

38,000 BTU input is slightly lower than 40,000 BTU class average. Recovery is a hair slower (38 GPH vs 40 GPH).

Atmospheric venting limits closet and manufactured-home installs.

No WiFi, no diagnostics, no smart features. Pure mechanical residential.

Install considerations

61" height + 22" diameter — standard residential atmospheric footprint. Atmospheric flue inspection required before install. 1/2" gas line sufficient. No 120V outlet needed (atmospheric).

Install cost: $400–$900 like-for-like atmospheric swap. Plumber-channel turnkey typically $1,800–$2,800.

Maintenance

• Annual flush
• Magnesium anode check year 3, replace year 5
• T&P valve test annually
• Burner inspection every 2 years

Bottom line

The Bradford White RG250T6N is the legacy-model designation for what Bradford White now also markets as the Defender 50G. Same chassis, same 6-year warranty, same FVIR-compliant burner. The volume residential atmospheric gas tank for 3–4 person households serviced by a Bradford White-network plumber. For DIY install or warranty-math optimization, pivot to AO Smith Signature Premier 50G or Rheem Performance Platinum 50 Gas.