Water heater product attributes

Water heater replacements are driven by constraints at the install site: the fuel and electrical supply, the vent path, the closet footprint and the local emissions rule. Supplier sheets cover each of these, but in a mix of tables, footnotes and model-number codes. A record that captures capacity and input but not jacket diameter, vent type or NOx class leaves the installer to discover the problem on the job.

Performance figures need their context. Uniform Energy Factor is measured under one of several draw patterns, so two UEF values are only comparable within the same pattern. First hour rating and recovery rate describe storage heaters, while tankless units are rated in gallons per minute at a stated temperature rise. Storing a bare number without that basis produces misleading comparisons across brands and configurations.

The evidence side is layered. Gas, electric and heat pump models are certified to different safety standards, larger commercial units may carry additional construction requirements, and emission limits vary by air district. Recording each listing and rating per SKU, with its source, keeps the catalog useful for code-driven replacement rather than just brochure search.

The water heaters attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 9 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN) manufacturer_part_number_mpn	Identifier	Core	WH-G50-40-PDV
GTIN-14 / UPC gtin_14_upc	Identifier	Core	614141260058

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Nominal Storage Capacity nominal_storage_capacity	Number · gal	Core	50
Rated Input rated_input	Number · BTU/h	Core	40000
Electrical Requirements (Voltage / Phase / Wattage) electrical_requirements	Text	Core	120 VAC, 1-phase (power vent blower)
Tank Profile & Jacket Dimensions tank_profile_jacket_dimensions	Text · in	Core	Tall, 20-1/2 in dia x 61-1/4 in H
Working Pressure working_pressure	Number · psi	Core	150
Recovery Rate @ 90°F Rise recovery_rate_90_f_rise	Number · gal/h	Buyer decision	40.6
First Hour Rating first_hour_rating	Number · gal	Buyer decision	81
Rated Flow @ Temperature Rise rated_flow_temperature_rise	Text · GPM @ °F rise	Buyer decision	Not applicable (storage tank)
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) uniform_energy_factor_uef	Number	Buyer decision	0.64 (medium draw pattern)

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Fuel Type fuel_type	Controlled list	Core	Natural Gas
Heater Configuration heater_configuration	Controlled list	Core	Storage Tank

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Venting Type & Vent Connection Size venting_type_vent_connection_size	Text · in	Buyer decision	Power direct vent, 3 in

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Warranty Term (Tank / Parts) warranty_term_tank_parts	Text	Buyer decision	6-year tank / 6-year parts
NOx Emission Class nox_emission_class	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Ultra Low NOx (14 ng/J)
Agency Certification / Listing agency_certification_listing	Text	Channel / evidence	ANSI Z21.10.1/CSA 4.1; NSF/ANSI/CAN 372
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	United States

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• UEF Draw Pattern
• Rated Flow at Stated Temperature Rise
• NOx Emission Rate (ng/J)
• Anode Rod Type
• Required Air Volume & Ambient Range (heat pump models)

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing water heaters ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will it fit the existing closet, and how tall and wide is the jacket?
• Can it vent through the sidewall with 3-inch pipe, or does it need a chimney?
• Does it meet the ultra-low NOx rule in our air district?
• How much hot water can it deliver in the first hour?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ