Richmond’s electric series differ in controls, recovery rate and coverage; a longer warranty name does not automatically mean more first-hour hot water. The linked sheets give the tall Essential 6E50-D and Encore Smart 12E50-DCS the same 63-gallon first-hour figure, despite different element wattages.
This manufacturer-document review covers Essential Standard Electric and Encore Smart Electric with LeakGuard. It is not a hands-on test, reliability score or purchase recommendation. It does not cover every Richmond gas, tankless, hybrid or newer demand-response model, or verify current stock.
Match the complete model, not just “50 gallon”
The current Essential Standard Electric page (richmondwaterheaters.com) links a May 2024 T-641 specification sheet. The Encore Smart Electric with LeakGuard page (richmondwaterheaters.com) links a February 2020 T-670 sheet. These are the particular revisions compared below; confirm the sheet supplied with a unit on your quote.
Read the exact rows in the Essential sheet (files.myrheem.com) and Encore sheet (files.myrheem.com). Medium and short versions have different dimensions and ratings.
| Published figure | Essential 6E50-D | Encore Smart 12E50-DCS |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal / rated capacity | 50 / 45 gallons | 50 / 45 gallons |
| First-hour rating | 63 gallons | 63 gallons |
| Recovery at a 90°F rise | 21 gallons per hour | 25 gallons per hour |
| Standard elements | Upper and lower 4,500 W copper; non-simultaneous | Upper and lower 5,500 W stainless steel; non-simultaneous |
Both sheets specify 240 V single-phase operation for these standard configurations. Non-simultaneous elements do not mean adding the upper and lower wattages together as normal operating input. Have the electrician verify the rating plate, circuit and applicable instructions; this comparison does not approve reusing wiring or changing element wattage.
Recovery and first-hour delivery are separate ratings. The larger recovery figure here does not change the equal first-hour figures printed in these two rows, or predict your shower count. For wider brand context, see our A.O. Smith versus Rheem guide. A corporate relationship does not establish parts interchangeability.
Leak detection is useful only with its limits understood
The named Encore product adds a factory-installed automatic water shutoff and EcoNet connectivity. Its specification footnote ties remote features to broadband Wi-Fi and the EcoNet app, with connection factors outside Richmond’s control. Check which functions are local and which require a working connection before relying on an alert.
The sheet’s 20-ounce leakage claim has specific test conditions: a 50-gallon tank under vacuum lock, no expansion tank, an average 40 psi tank pressure and no additional faucets opened. It is not a promise that every household leak stops at that volume. Do not remove required installation protection to imitate a test setup.
The linked AP21606 electronic-control manual (files.myrheem.com), page 17, says to identify the source of a leak and call for service if it comes from the heater. Repeatedly clearing an alarm does not repair the cause. Confirm that the model and manual revision match your equipment.
Read the certificate before pricing a repair
The Essential product page advertises six years of limited tank and parts coverage. The named Encore page advertises 12 years for tank and parts and two years of in-home labor. These headline periods are not a lifespan prediction or a promise to pay every service charge.
The Essential page’s linked AP11024-6 certificate is dated January 2013 (files.myrheem.com). Its front describes a two-year full period followed by four limited years, while an inside parts-coverage line instead refers to four years from the effective date. Get Richmond to confirm the applicable certificate and period for the exact serial number; this review does not silently resolve that wording.
That certificate limits coverage to the original owner, excludes specified installation and maintenance failures, and makes labor and other listed costs the owner’s responsibility after the full period. It also says proof of purchase matters to full coverage. Keep the receipt, installation date and service records. Do not transfer this six-year certificate’s details to an Encore unit.
“Self cleaning” still leaves a maintenance plan
EverKleen is a sediment-control feature described on the product pages. The linked Essential manual, AP9029-12 dated January 2015 (files.myrheem.com), page 16, still suggests a small monthly tank draw-off and annual anode inspection. The Encore manual’s page 20 also lists ongoing maintenance. Those currently linked revisions do not establish the instructions for every later unit.
Ask qualified service personnel to set the schedule for your model and water conditions. Electrical work and hot draining water bring shock and scald risks; this page gives no draining, anode-removal, alarm-override or wiring procedure. Our water-heater flushing guide explains why manufacturer procedures and intervals need to stay with the matching heater.
When an older review raises a fault or recall concern, use the complete model and serial number with the manufacturer. Richmond’s recall-information page (richmondwaterheaters.com) is a starting point, not proof that a particular unit is unaffected. Customer anecdotes about another fuel type or generation do not establish this model’s failure rate.