Gas storage tanks
Rheem PROG50-36P 50 Gallon Propane 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 Rheem PROG50-36P 50 Gallon Propane 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 | 50 |
| Fuel | Propane |
| Btu Input | 36000 |
| Vent Style | Atmospheric |
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 | Flow | Inlet needed for a 120 F outlet |
|---|---|---|
| 35 F | 1.7 GPM | 85 F |
| 45 F | 1.3 GPM | 75 F |
| 60 F | 1 GPM | 60 F |
| 70 F | 0.8 GPM | 50 F |
| 80 F | 0.7 GPM | 40 F |
| 90 F | 0.7 GPM | 30 F |
Published standard Source: Energy relation applied to the published 36,000 BTU input at an assumed 82 percent thermal efficiency. These are computed from the published input rating, not taken from the manufacturer curve. The installation manual curve is the authority and accounts for modulation.
What gas line it needs
At 36,000 BTU per hour this draws about 35 cubic feet of natural gas per hour. Over a 40 foot run the NFPA 54 low pressure table calls for 1 inch Schedule 40 pipe.
Check your own run length on the gas line page for the nearest input worked through in full. Gas line upsizing is routinely the largest single line in a tankless quote and the one most often missed from an estimate.
How it sits against the rest of its category
Other gas storage tanks in this catalog: A.O. Smith GPVX-50L ProMax SL Power Vent, GE RealMAX Choice 40 Gallon Natural Gas.
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 gas storage tanks
A.O. Smith GPVX-50L ProMax SL Power Vent
$2,199.00A power vent pushes exhaust out through PVC with a blower, which frees the tank from needing a chimney at all and adds an electrical outlet to the requirements.
Best for: Basements with no usable flue
Check price on Amazon
GE RealMAX Choice 40 Gallon Natural Gas
$1,051.49An atmospheric tank vents on buoyancy alone through an existing flue, which is why it is the cheapest gas tank to install and the one most exposed to backdrafting.
Best for: A like-for-like swap into an existing masonry or B-vent flue
Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
- What are the specifications of the Rheem PROG50-36P 50 Gallon Propane?
- The listing publishes gallons, fuel, btu input, vent style 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.
- What gas line does the Rheem PROG50-36P 50 Gallon Propane need?
- About 35 cubic feet per hour, which over a 40 foot run calls for 1 inch Schedule 40 pipe under the NFPA 54 low pressure table. Fittings add equivalent length this does not account for, and other gas appliances share the meter, so a gas fitter sizes the whole system.
- 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.
Gas and flue work belongs to a licensed plumber or gas fitter. An undersized gas line starves a burner, and a starved burner produces carbon monoxide. Backdrafting on an atmospheric vent is real, it is invisible, and it kills. Nothing on this page is a substitute for the sizing done by the person who signs the permit, and a working carbon monoxide alarm belongs on every floor of a house with a gas appliance.