Where the Bradford White RE230LN6 fits
The RE230LN6 is a current 28-gallon nominal lowboy with a 23-inch jacket and no supplied external blanket designation. It is a useful comparison when a low installation space rules out an upright tank and the final installed width matters more than the narrowest bare jacket.
Its 26-gallon DOE rated storage and 41-gallon first-hour rating should be matched to the fixtures and the timing of use. A compact heater can be appropriate for a limited demand, but it should not be selected solely because the previous tank was called a 30-gallon model. WHE checks the existing label, the available space and the household’s busiest hot-water period before recommending the replacement.
Capacity, delivery and efficiency
The current specification lists 28 gallons nominal capacity, 26 gallons DOE rated storage, a 41-gallon first-hour rating and 0.92 UEF. Nominal capacity describes the listed size; rated storage is the separately published stored volume. First-hour rating combines stored hot water and recovery during a standardized test hour.
Compare first-hour ratings when considering a busy period, but do not treat them as a guaranteed number of showers. UEF is a standardized efficiency measure, not a prediction of an individual household’s electricity bill. Actual use, incoming water temperature and the selected configuration affect operating results.
Lowboy dimensions and replacement access
- A — floor to top of heater: 29 9/16 inches.
- B — jacket diameter: 23 inches.
- C — floor to water connections: 31 5/16 inches.
- E — floor to standard side T&P connection: 23 1/16 inches. The optional top location is 31 5/16 inches.
- D — water-connection center spacing: 8 inches; G — water connections: 3/4-inch NPT.
- Approximate shipping weight: 102 pounds, not the filled operating weight.
Keep the N in the model number when checking quotes and documents. The current family lists RE230LN6, while older RE230L literature is archived separately. An older label can help identify the existing heater, but its dimensions and ratings should not be carried over to the current replacement.
RE230LN6 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 has the same nominal and rated storage capacities and the same heater and water-connection heights. Its first-hour rating is 42 gallons, compared with 41 here, and its UEF is also 0.92. Its 20-inch jacket requires a supplied 2-inch blanket. RE230LN6 has a wider bare jacket but avoids that additional supplied-blanket layer; a full fit review is more useful than comparing one diameter.
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 family includes a protective anode and a sediment-control system. Those features do not make the heater maintenance-free; inspection and service should follow the instructions supplied with the equipment. 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 RE230LN6 FAQs
Is RE230LN6 the same listing as an older RE230L?
The current Bradford White lowboy family lists RE230LN6. Older RE230L documentation is separate. Match the complete proposed model to the current specification rather than assuming the archived unit’s dimensions and ratings still apply.
Does RE230LN6 require the supplied blanket used on RE130L6?
RE230LN6 is listed as a non-blanketed model in the current sheet. RE130L6 is the supplied-blanket alternative. Both have 26 gallons of DOE rated storage, but their jacket widths and finished installation arrangements differ.
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 RE230LN6 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.