Where the Bradford White RE120L6 fits
The RE120L6 is the smallest current Bradford White lowboy in this family, with 19 gallons of nominal capacity and an 18-inch jacket. Its short body is useful when height is the limiting measurement, but the small tank calls for a careful review of how much hot water is needed at one time.
A compact tank can suit a limited demand, yet a small footprint does not establish that it can replace the output of a larger heater. Tell WHE which fixtures the heater serves, whether showers overlap and whether the existing unit previously met that demand. A recent loss of hot water can also be a service problem, so a replacement should be chosen from the actual installation and usage rather than from the available opening alone.
Capacity, delivery and efficiency
The current specification lists 19 gallons of rated nominal capacity. Its DOE rated storage, first-hour rating and UEF entries are dashes. This guide therefore leaves those values unpublished rather than borrowing them from another lowboy or treating the nominal capacity as a tested storage figure.
The absence of a published first-hour figure makes a demand review particularly useful. Describe the fixtures served and their timing instead of relying on a household-size rule. A larger model’s efficiency rating also should not be assigned to RE120L6 just because both belong to the same product family.
Lowboy dimensions and replacement access
- A — floor to top of heater: 24 7/16 inches.
- B — jacket diameter: 18 inches.
- C — floor to water connections: 25 11/16 inches.
- E — floor to standard side T&P connection: 18 15/16 inches. The optional top location is 25 11/16 inches.
- D — water-connection center spacing: 8 inches; G — water connections: 3/4-inch NPT.
- Approximate shipping weight: 65 pounds, not the filled operating weight.
The water connections stand above the heater top. Check the 25 11/16-inch connection height and the space needed to make and service the connections before calling this an under-counter fit. A removable panel, doorway and drain-pan arrangement can be just as important as the available floor area.
RE120L6 is listed as a non-blanketed model in the current specification. That means it does not use the supplied external blanket specified for RE130L6, RE240L6 and RE250L6. The jacket diameter still is not the complete installation footprint: the pan, pipework, relief discharge and service access require their own space.
Compare the closest current models
The RE130L6 and RE230LN6 both move up to 28 gallons nominal and 26 gallons DOE rated storage. Each is 29 9/16 inches to the heater top. RE130L6 uses a supplied blanket around its 20-inch jacket; RE230LN6 has a 23-inch jacket without the supplied-blanket designation. Neither is a same-size substitute for this 18-inch model.
Lowboys are a separate family from the short upright electrics. For example, the RE330S6 short upright is 46 11/16 inches to the heater top. Compare the actual body and connection heights instead of treating the words “short” and “lowboy” as interchangeable.
Electrical configuration and recovery
This guide uses the sheet’s standard 240V, single-phase configuration with two 4,500W elements operating non-simultaneously. One element operates at a time, so this is not a standard 9,000W simultaneous load. The recovery table gives 21 gallons per hour at a 90°F temperature rise, or 19 gallons per hour at a 100°F rise, for 4,500W operation.
Recovery describes reheating at a specified temperature rise; it is separate from stored volume and first-hour delivery. Other voltage, input and wiring options have model-specific restrictions. WHE checks the full nameplate, supply and circuit before installation. An available factory wattage option is not permission to increase input on an existing circuit.
Installation and ongoing service
Standard side T&P placement is the basis of this guide; the sheet also lists an optional top location. WHE reviews the supporting surface, leak-management arrangement, relief discharge, shutoff access and thermal-expansion provisions where the water supply is closed. Adequate room to reach the element covers, drain and anode matters after the initial installation as well.
The specification excludes RE120L6 from the factory-installed heat-trap feature listed for the larger models. Its compact body does not remove the need for sediment maintenance and anode inspection. Keep the model, serial number and installation record together. Have electrical diagnosis and internal service performed by a qualified professional; recurring trips, leaks or a change in delivery deserve assessment.
Six-year model and warranty terms
The final 6 identifies the six-year tank version. The current residential certificate provides six-year limited tank and component-parts coverage for qualifying single-family use, subject to its conditions. It shortens these terms to one year for other residential use of a six-year model and excludes nonresidential or commercial use. Removal, installation and associated repair or replacement costs are excluded, subject to applicable law. Check the certificate supplied with the heater and confirm eligibility using the complete model and serial number.
Official sources and image note
Sources checked October 17, 2026: Bradford White’s current U.S. Lowboy Electric family, 1203-0926 specification (September 2026), 238-44422-00AB installation manual (August 2026) and 238-39699-00ZAN residential warranty (March 2025). The official photograph represents the lowboy family; proportions, labels and blanket arrangements vary. The model row and supplied documents establish the exact equipment.
Plan your lowboy replacement
Explore our Bradford White installation options, electric water heater service and model catalog. Water Heating Experts is family owned and master plumber owned, serving Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and nearby Palm Beach County communities under Florida license CFC1426133. Call 561-602-9062, text your site photos or request a free installation estimate. Price, availability and the scope of work are confirmed for your project.
Bradford White RE120L6 FAQs
Is RE120L6 a 20-gallon model?
Its current specification row lists 19 gallons of rated nominal capacity. The sheet does not publish a DOE storage-volume, first-hour or UEF value for this model, so those figures should not be inferred from the model number.
Does RE120L6 have factory heat traps?
The current feature sheet specifically excludes RE120L6 from its factory-installed heat-trap feature. It is also not marked as a supplied-blanket model. Use its own specification row when comparing it with larger lowboys.
Do both 4,500W elements operate at once?
The specification’s standard arrangement is 240V, single-phase and non-simultaneous, with two 4,500W elements. The controls energize one at a time. Confirm the supplied nameplate; other factory configurations require separate verification.
Does the six-year warranty include installation labor?
The residential certificate provides six-year limited tank and parts terms for qualifying single-family use of this six-year model. It excludes replacement and repair costs such as removal, installation and associated charges, subject to applicable law. Other residential uses have shorter terms; the supplied certificate controls.
Can WHE check whether RE120L6 fits my home?
Yes. Send the existing model label, a wide photo of the installation, available opening measurements and your hot-water concerns. WHE checks fit, demand and the installation scope in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and nearby Palm Beach County communities. Availability and scheduling are confirmed for the project.