Why is the Bradford White RE340T6 sold through plumbing supply instead of retail?

Bradford White has historically built its business around plumbing professionals rather than direct retail sales, which means most of its distribution runs through wholesale supply houses that plumbers have accounts with. The practical effect is that a plumber is more likely to already stock parts and know the product line, compared to a brand sold mostly at retail with no wholesale relationship behind it.

Does buying this tank online give me the same parts advantage as buying through a plumber?

Not directly. The parts advantage comes from a plumber’s existing wholesale account and familiarity with Bradford White’s product line, not from where the tank itself was purchased. Ordering this specific model online gets you the tank, but it does not create a wholesale parts relationship on its own.

What is the element wattage on the Bradford White RE340T6?

The manufacturer listing does not publish the element wattage or current draw for this unit. That figure is read directly off the nameplate on the physical tank, and it is the number needed to correctly size the breaker with the breaker size calculator rather than assuming a typical wattage for a 40 gallon tank.

Should I store water hotter than 120 F to control Legionella risk?

Some plumbing codes and public health guidance recommend storing water at 140 F or higher to limit Legionella growth, but water at 140 F scalds a child in seconds at the tap. The common resolution is to store hot and deliver cooler, using a thermostatic mixing valve at the point of use so the storage temperature and the delivered temperature are not forced to be the same number.

Does this tank need an expansion tank?

Yes, if the home has a closed plumbing system, which includes a check valve, backflow preventer, or pressure-reducing valve on the supply line. That requirement applies to any storage water heater on a closed system regardless of brand or distribution channel, and it should be sized against the 40 gallon capacity rather than picked at random.

Is a 40 gallon tank the right size for most households?

It commonly fits smaller households or homes with fewer bathrooms, but it should be confirmed against actual fixture count and peak usage rather than assumed from a previous tank’s size alone. The water heater size calculator walks through household size and peak demand to check whether 40 gallons still fits before ordering a like-for-like replacement.

Electric Tank Reviews

Bradford White RE340T6 Electric Water Heater Review

Researched from the DOE test procedures, NFPA 54 and NEC code tables, and manufacturer specifications. Updated 2026-09-17.

Quick answer

The Bradford White RE340T6 is a 40 gallon, 240 volt electric resistance tank sold through plumbing supply rather than retail. It suits a replacement done by a plumber who already carries Bradford White parts on the truck, and it does not suit someone assuming that ordering it here creates that same parts relationship, since the wholesale account belongs to the plumber, not to whoever places the order.

Most of the tanks on this site are sold both at retail and through plumbing supply. Bradford White leans the other direction: it is a brand plumbers specify because they already have a wholesale account and parts relationship with the company, not because a homeowner picked it off a shelf. The RE340T6 is a plain 40 gallon electric tank on paper, and the actual case for it is almost entirely about who services it after the sale.

We did not test, install or measure this unit ourselves. This review is compiled from the manufacturer listing and the consensus of verified owner and installer reviews about Bradford White's distribution model specifically.

What the specifications actually say

The listing publishes 40 gallons of capacity, electric resistance heat, and 240 volts. It does not publish the element wattage, the current draw, the measured UEF, the measured first hour rating, or the dimensions, and it does state directly that Bradford White sells this tank through plumbing supply rather than retail.

Bradford White RE340T6, published versus not published
Specification	What the listing states
Tank capacity	40 gallons
Fuel type	Electric resistance
Voltage	240 volts
Distribution channel	Sold through plumbing supply rather than retail, per the listing
Element wattage and current draw	Not published in this listing
Measured UEF and FHR (DOE label)	Not published in this listing
Warranty term	Not published in this listing

Published standard Source: Manufacturer listing data compiled in the WaterHeaterCalc catalog. Capacity, fuel type and voltage are as published; element wattage, current draw and warranty are not carried in this listing.. The nameplate on the physical tank carries the element wattage and amperage needed for the breaker size calculator. The EnergyGuide label carries the measured UEF and first hour rating.

Who it suits

This suits a household whose plumber already recommended Bradford White specifically because that plumber has a wholesale account and stocks parts for it, and the household is buying the same tank the plumber would have quoted anyway. It suits a straight 40 gallon replacement where the case for this brand over a retail equivalent is entirely about who services it in five or ten years, not about a published specification difference on this page.

Who should not buy it

Skip this if the entire reason for choosing it is the plumbing-supply parts advantage, but the plan is to self-install and self-service: that advantage belongs to the plumber's account relationship with Bradford White, not to whoever places an online order for the tank itself. Ordering this specific model here does not open a wholesale account or guarantee any particular installer stocks its parts. If there is no existing relationship with a plumber who already works with this brand, a retail tank from a manufacturer with parts sold openly online, such as the Rheem PROE50 reviewed on this site, may be the more honest match for a self-directed installation.

Skip it too if the actual need today is simply a fast, working replacement: a plain electric tank from a home center with installation included is often quicker and no less capable for that purpose.

What the installation actually involves

Mechanically this is a standard 240 volt electric tank installation: water connections, a T&P discharge routed to an approved location, and a circuit sized to the element's actual amperage, which the breaker size calculator needs read off the nameplate since it is not on this listing. Before touching an element, turn the breaker off and verify it is off with a meter, and never energize an element that is not fully submerged. If the household stores water hotter than 120 F to control Legionella risk, pair that with a thermostatic mixing valve at the point of use, since water at 140 F scalds a child in seconds and the storage temperature and the delivered temperature do not have to be the same number.

How we researched this

We did not test, install or measure this water heater ourselves. This review is compiled from the manufacturer listing, which states the tank capacity, voltage and its plumbing-supply distribution model directly, and from the consensus of verified owner and installer reviews about what that distribution model does and does not provide to a buyer. Where a figure such as element wattage is not published in this listing, we say so rather than assume a value typical for a tank this size.

What actually pairs with this tank

The same pressure-vessel accessories any 40 gallon electric tank needs, weighted toward the buy-once mindset that picked a plumbing-supply brand over a retail one in the first place.

Expert

Chromex

Chromex Powered Titanium Anode, 40 to 89 Gallon

$129.99

A powered titanium anode rather than a sacrificial one, which fits a household treating this as a long-term tank rather than the cheapest available replacement.

Best for: A 40 to 80 gallon tank

Check price on Amazon

Beginner

Amtrol

Amtrol ST-5 2 Gallon

$77.99

A thermal expansion tank for a closed system, sized against the 40 gallon capacity rather than assumed.

Best for: Anyone who wants the name plumbers recognise

Check price on Amazon

Intermediate

Reliance

Reliance 4500W 240V Screw-In Element

$12.92

A spare heating element worth having on hand, since the wattage is not published on the listing and matching a failed element by sight is a common mistake.

Best for: A straightforward element replacement

Check price on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Bradford White RE340T6 sold through plumbing supply instead of retail?: Bradford White has historically built its business around plumbing professionals rather than direct retail sales, which means most of its distribution runs through wholesale supply houses that plumbers have accounts with. The practical effect is that a plumber is more likely to already stock parts and know the product line, compared to a brand sold mostly at retail with no wholesale relationship behind it.
Does buying this tank online give me the same parts advantage as buying through a plumber?: Not directly. The parts advantage comes from a plumber’s existing wholesale account and familiarity with Bradford White’s product line, not from where the tank itself was purchased. Ordering this specific model online gets you the tank, but it does not create a wholesale parts relationship on its own.
What is the element wattage on the Bradford White RE340T6?: The manufacturer listing does not publish the element wattage or current draw for this unit. That figure is read directly off the nameplate on the physical tank, and it is the number needed to correctly size the breaker with the breaker size calculator rather than assuming a typical wattage for a 40 gallon tank.
Should I store water hotter than 120 F to control Legionella risk?: Some plumbing codes and public health guidance recommend storing water at 140 F or higher to limit Legionella growth, but water at 140 F scalds a child in seconds at the tap. The common resolution is to store hot and deliver cooler, using a thermostatic mixing valve at the point of use so the storage temperature and the delivered temperature are not forced to be the same number.
Does this tank need an expansion tank?: Yes, if the home has a closed plumbing system, which includes a check valve, backflow preventer, or pressure-reducing valve on the supply line. That requirement applies to any storage water heater on a closed system regardless of brand or distribution channel, and it should be sized against the 40 gallon capacity rather than picked at random.
Is a 40 gallon tank the right size for most households?: It commonly fits smaller households or homes with fewer bathrooms, but it should be confirmed against actual fixture count and peak usage rather than assumed from a previous tank’s size alone. The water heater size calculator walks through household size and peak demand to check whether 40 gallons still fits before ordering a like-for-like replacement.

Safety note. Turn the breaker off and verify it is off before touching an element, and never energize an element that is not fully submerged. The T&P valve on this tank must never be capped, plugged or removed; a dripping valve calls for a replacement valve or a correctly sized expansion tank instead.