Mar
Some information about a water heater is easy to find on labels if you know where to look and how to interpret it.
ENERGY STAR. Do not look for an ENERGY STAR label. The U. S. Department of Energy is working on creating an ENERGY STAR residential water heater program, but at this time (latest information found is from October, 2007), the ENERGY STAR program does not address water heaters. As a matter of fact, “water heating is the only major residential energy end use that the ENERGY STAR program does not address.” (source 1)
Price tag. Most, if not all, major appliances have two price tags: one shows the purchase price; the other, the lifetime-operating cost of the appliance.
EnergyGuide label. Most appliances have an EnergyGuide label (a bright yellow and black label that tells the operating cost of the appliance) so that the consumer can easily compare different models and make a more informed purchasing decision.
The first-hour rating (FHR), or recovery rating, of a water heater can be found on the EnergyGuide. (source 2). Indicating the amount of hot water that the water heater can deliver during peak hot-water use, this information is actually more important than the more-commonly considered tank capacity. (source 3)
Energy Factor (EF). Often listed beside the EnergyGuide, EF is a measure of the efficiency of the water heater, taking into account recovery-efficiency, standby losses, and cycling losses. The more energy efficient the water heater, the higher the EF.
Water heater label. Labels on water heaters vary, but some of the information often included are manufacturer; model and serial numbers; R-value (insulation rating); capacity; manufacture date; and the Btu input rating, which indicates how powerful the water heater is. (source 4)