BRADFORD WHITE RE280T6-1NCWW Electric Water Heater (76 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

A large 76 US gallon electric tank for homes that use hot water from morning to night

In a home with two or three bathrooms, hot water is not just for morning showers. There is the kids’ bath, the dishwasher, the washing machine, sometimes a large freestanding tub that empties a small tank in minutes. The Bradford White RE280T6-1NCWW electric water heater is built for that pace. Its tank holds 76 US gallons (63 imperial gallons, or 288 L) and its first-hour rating reaches 75 gallons (284 L), according to the manufacturer’s sheet. AirGreen installs it in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the South Shore and on the North Shore, most often to replace a tank that has become too small for the family.

This is an electric tank water heater in the classic sense: no compressor, no touchscreen, no moving parts. Two 4,500 W immersion elements, a tank lined with Vitraglas with Microban and fittings ready to connect. Its value lies in its volume, its construction and how simple it is to maintain.

Who the RE280T6-1NCWW is for

This model is aimed at households that run short of hot water with a standard tank. You find it in multigenerational homes, where grandparents, parents and teenagers share the same supply, in homes with a deep soaking tub or a multi-jet shower, and in families that run several hot-water laundry loads on the same day. A family of five or six taking showers one after another in the morning is a typical example.

On the other hand, for a couple in a condo or a small house, a tank this size would keep a lot of water hot for no reason. During the assessment, we look at the number of bathrooms, the appliances that run at the same time and your habits before confirming that this format truly suits you.

How this water heater produces hot water

Cold water from the city supply enters at the bottom of the tank and hot water is drawn from the top. The RE280T6-1NCWW ships wired for non-simultaneous operation: only one of its two elements heats at a time. The upper element first restores hot water at the top of the tank, where it is drawn, then the lower element takes over to heat the rest of the volume. This mode limits the current draw to one element at a time, which matches the usual supply of a residential water heater.

Bradford White states that simultaneous operation, where both elements heat at the same time, is also available. It must, however, be specified when ordering, and it requires a matching electrical supply. For most homes, the factory wiring is the right choice; we only discuss it with you if your use justifies it.

Manufacturer’s data

• Capacity: 76 US gallons / 63 imperial gallons / 288 L
• First-hour rating: 75 gallons (284 L)
• Recovery: 21 US GPH (18 imperial GPH) at a 90 °F rise, or 79 L/h at a 50 °C rise, in non-simultaneous 4,500 W / 4,500 W operation
• Elements: two 4,500 W screw-in immersion elements, factory-wired non-simultaneous, single phase, 240 V
• Standby loss: 84 W
• Inner lining: Vitraglas with Microban
• Water and electrical connections: 3/4 in (19 mm) NPT, with factory-installed dielectric fittings
• Weight: 183 lb (83 kg)
• Listing: UL listed model; approved for manufactured homes, with installation to CAN/CSA Z240 MH series

What these figures mean day to day

The first-hour rating shows how much hot water the unit can deliver during one hour of heavy use, starting from a full, hot tank. With 75 gallons, several showers in a row, the dishwasher and a load of laundry can follow one another without the last person ending up under lukewarm water.

Recovery describes what happens once the reserve is drawn down: the heater reheats about 21 US gallons per hour when the water must gain 90 °F. In Quebec, city water arrives colder in winter than in summer. The rise to deliver is therefore larger in January and the real recovery a little slower. That is exactly where a large tank makes the difference: the reserve absorbs the peaks while the elements catch up.

The standby loss of 84 W is the heat the tank loses continuously when no one is using hot water. It is the manufacturer’s measurement; it allows an objective comparison between tanks.

A protected interior and elements that are easy to replace

The tank is lined with Vitraglas with Microban, the lining Bradford White applies to the inner steel to protect it from the water. As in any lined steel tank, a sacrificial anode works alongside the lining; its condition is checked during maintenance, especially when the water is hard.

The elements are screw-in type. The day one of them stops working, it can be replaced on its own after partially draining the tank, without changing the unit. For a water heater that must last many years, this ease of service matters as much as capacity.

Voltage choice and electrical supply

The model is factory-wired for 240 V single phase, the usual supply for a residential water heater in Quebec. Bradford White also offers 120 V, 208 V, 277 V and 480 V versions; the 120 V and 277 V versions can only be wired for single-phase operation. These variants are mainly intended for specific buildings and are ordered in advance.

Before the installation, we check the breaker, the wire gauge and the condition of the circuit that fed your old tank. AirGreen’s RBQ licence covers electrical work: if a correction is needed, it is part of the same written quote.

Preparing the basement location

A 76 US gallon tank weighs 183 lb empty and much more once filled. It must sit on a level concrete floor or a solid base, ideally in a drain pan connected to a floor drain. We also check the path down the stairs and through door frames, as well as the free space in front of the element panel for future service. The exact jacket dimensions are confirmed with the order sheet and compared with our on-site measurements.

If your water entrance has a check valve or a pressure-reducing valve, heated water can no longer expand back toward the city supply. A thermal expansion tank is then recommended; we include it in the quote when that is the case.

Manufacturer’s warranty

The RE280T6-1NCWW is covered by a 6-year limited tank warranty and a 6-year limited parts warranty. The manufacturer’s full terms are given to you with the written quote.

Simple maintenance for a long life

One maintenance visit per year is enough in most homes: partial draining to remove sediment from the bottom, a test of the relief valve, a check of the fittings and an inspection of the anode at regular intervals. A few minutes of checking avoids many leaks in the basement.

Installation of the Bradford White RE280T6-1NCWW by AirGreen in Greater Montreal

AirGreen is a family business established in Montreal and active in heating, ventilation and air conditioning for more than fifteen years. Our RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 covers ventilation, refrigeration and electrical work. For this water heater, our work includes:

• assessment of the location: access, floor strength, drain, service space in front of the elements;
• draining, disconnecting and removing the old tank;
• connecting the cold and hot water lines in 3/4 in, with the required shut-off valves;
• installing the temperature and pressure relief valve and its discharge pipe to the drain;
• the 240 V electrical connection and a check of the circuit;
• filling, purging the air and commissioning, with the thermostats set;
• maintenance advice: yearly draining, relief valve test, anode follow-up.

We serve Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Lambert, Boucherville, Terrebonne, Blainville, Repentigny and the entire South Shore and North Shore. The on-site estimate is free and the quote is written. Financing is available to spread the cost of the replacement.

Request your free quote for the Bradford White RE280T6-1NCWW. Send us a photo of your current tank and its rating plate: we will confirm the format that suits your home.