Ruud Professional Classic 66-Gallon Electric Water Heater
Ruud Professional Classic 66-Gallon Electric Water Heater Review
The Ruud Professional Classic 66-Gallon Electric is Rheem's plumber-channel mid-large capacity electric tank under the Ruud brand. 66-gallon capacity covers 4-5 person households.
Specs: 66 gallons stored, two 4500W heating elements (240V), UEF 0.93, 80-gallon FHR, 6-year tank and parts warranty. Glass-lined steel tank, magnesium anode rod. About 60" tall × 24" diameter.
The 66-gallon capacity bridges the gap between standard 50-gallon and large 80-gallon electric tanks. Right answer for 4-5 person households where 50-gallon would be tight.
About $799 plumber-channel pricing, $1,400 plumber-installed. For households with basement install supporting heat-pump, the upgrade to AO Smith Voltex Premium HPTU-66 (heat-pump operating cost 75% lower) usually makes that the better economic choice.
- No combustion, no venting required — installs anywhere with 240V electrical access
- Strong UEF 0.93 efficiency — approximately 20% lower annual operating cost vs 0.62 standard
- 66-gallon capacity — right-sized for 3–4 person households with standard usage patterns
- 6-year warranty — below the 8–12 year average for premium models in this class
- Resistance electric has slower recovery than gas at comparable capacity — schedule heavy use to match tank recovery