A. O. Smith GCRL-50 2**

It holds 49 gallons in the test, 1 gallon less than its 50-gallon sold size. Starting full, it gives 78 gallons of hot water in its first hour of use. That is 29 gallons more than its tank holds, since it reheats during the hour. In the first hour, 366 of the 763 gas storage models give more hot water. Its first-hour rating matches the median for gas storage models.

On Oct 26, 2026, this heater was not listed as ENERGY STAR certified. In tests, 62% of the energy it uses ends up as hot water (UEF 0.62). In the test, daily hot water use was set to high (its draw pattern). Of 434 gas storage models with the same draw pattern, 386 have a higher UEF. For its type and draw pattern, the UEF runs from 0.61 to 0.90. Of the energy spent to reheat water, 73% goes into it (its recovery efficiency).

Its 2 model numbers are GCRL-50 2** and GCRL-50 2*1. There are 3 more basic models with the same test figures. Those basic models are sold with American, Lochinvar, and State as their brand names.