Electric storage tanks
GE Smart 40 Gallon Short, 12 Year Specifications
Researched from the DOE test procedures, NFPA 54 and NEC code tables, and manufacturer specifications. Updated .
Quick answer
This page collects what is actually published about the GE Smart 40 Gallon Short, 12 Year and shows what those figures produce, computed rather than transcribed. Anything the listing does not publish is not filled in with an estimate.
Published specifications
Everything here is taken from the listing or the manufacturer, and nothing is inferred.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Gallons | 40 |
| Fuel | Electric resistance |
| Element W | 5500 |
| Warranty Years | 12 |
Published standard Source: Manufacturer listing data. A specification not listed here is one this listing does not publish. Check the installation manual for the full data plate.
Recovery and first hour rating
Computed from the published input rating with the energy relation, so these figures cannot disagree with the calculators on this site.
| Temperature rise | Recovery | Estimated first hour rating |
|---|---|---|
| 60 F | 37.5 GPH | 66 gal |
| 70 F | 32.2 GPH | 60 gal |
| 80 F | 28.2 GPH | 56 gal |
| 90 F | 25 GPH | 53 gal |
| 100 F | 22.5 GPH | 51 gal |
Convention Source: Recovery computed from the published rating, first hour rating estimated with the 70 percent usable storage convention. The measured DOE first hour rating on the EnergyGuide label governs over this estimate.
How it sits against the rest of its category
Other electric storage tanks in this catalog: Bradford White RE340T6 40 Gallon, Rheem PROE50 M2 50 Gallon, GE 40 Gallon Lowboy, GE 30 Gallon Electric.
Compare them on input rating and on the figures the manufacturer actually publishes rather than on the headline number in the listing title, which in this category is frequently a maximum measured under conditions the listing never states.
Other electric storage tanks
Bradford White RE340T6 40 Gallon
$1,003.13Bradford White sells through plumbing supply rather than retail, so this is the tank a plumber is most likely to already stock parts for.
Best for: Anyone who wants the plumber to have parts on the truck
Check price on Amazon
Rheem PROE50 M2 50 Gallon
$945.99The professional line 50 gallon electric, which is the single most common residential water heater size in the country.
Best for: A straight 50 gallon electric replacement
Check price on Amazon
GE 40 Gallon Lowboy
$522.00A lowboy is short and wide, which is the answer when the tank has to fit under a stair or in a crawlspace and the tall version physically will not go in.
Best for: Height restricted closets and crawlspaces
Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
- What are the specifications of the GE Smart 40 Gallon Short, 12 Year?
- The listing publishes gallons, fuel, element w, warranty years and related figures, shown in full in the table on this page. Anything not shown is something the listing does not publish, and this page does not estimate it.
- Is this page based on hands-on testing?
- No, and we never claim otherwise. Everything here is compiled from the manufacturer listing, published specifications and the energy relations that turn those specifications into flow and recovery figures. We do not test products in person. Where a figure is not published, this page says so rather than estimating it.
- Are the prices on this page current?
- They come from verified catalog data at the time the page was built, and prices in this category move often. Treat any price shown as a guide and check the listing itself before deciding. Availability moves even faster than price does on water heater accessories in particular.
A water heater is a pressure vessel. The temperature and pressure relief valve is the one component on it that is never capped, plugged or removed, and a valve that will not open when you lift the test lever has failed and needs replacing rather than ignoring. If the valve weeps after the heater runs, that is thermal expansion in a closed system and the answer is an expansion tank or a pressure reducing valve, never a cap.