A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon is a gas storage water heater from A. O. Smith with a 38 gallon rated tank and a 86 gallon first-hour rating at a 0.9 UEF — 188 therms/yr certified use, 50k BTU/h input.
Our take
At 44.7 inches this is one of the two short-format designs in the certified 40-gallon gas class, roughly 10 inches under the tallest units in the cohort — useful under low basement ceilings or in crawl-space installs. Efficiency is a wash: every certified 40-gallon gas tank posts 0.90 UEF, about $273 a year at average natural-gas rates. First-hour delivery of 86 gallons sits right at the class median and covers a 5+ person household. Natural gas only, power-vented over 2- or 3-inch PVC, and sold under 7 brand names.
Best for: Replacing a 40-gallon tank where headroom is the binding constraint.
Trade-off: Power venting requires an electrical outlet; a flueless atmospheric swap it is not.
Efficiency
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF)
0.9
Annual gas use (natural gas)
188 therms/yr
Recovery efficiency
91 %
Annual propane use
205.46 gal/yr
General
Fuel
Natural Gas
Capacity
First-hour rating
86 gal
Rated storage volume
38 gal
Draw pattern
High
Performance
Gas input rate
50 kBTU/h
Installation
Max current draw
2 A
Vent type
Power Vent
Vent size
2 / 3
Smart features
Smart / connected capable
No
Dimensions
Height
44.7 in
Diameter
22 in
Certification
ENERGY STAR certified
Yes
Capacity and running cost
Its 86 gallon first-hour rating suits a
household of 5+ people under DOE sizing guidance.
Rated for a high-usage draw pattern
under the DOE test procedure.
Estimated running cost: about $273/year at national
average gas rates.
The A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon is certified hardware that A. O. Smith and its partner brands
publish under 8 names. The same specifications apply to every
variant:
Is the A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon ENERGY STAR certified?
Yes, the A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon holds a current ENERGY STAR certification for water heating efficiency (UEF 0.9).
How much does the A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon cost to run per year?
About $273 per year at national average energy rates, based on its certified annual energy use under the DOE test draw pattern. Your rate and usage change this figure.
What venting does the A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon use?
The A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon uses Power Vent venting with 2 / 3 in vent connections. Matching the existing vent type is usually the cheapest replacement path.
Is the A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon a smart water heater?
No, the A. O. Smith GC6-PS4050-V 1 40-Gallon is not connected-capable — it has no app connectivity or demand-response support.
