Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New water heater rules coming; expect more expensive units, tighter fits
Omaha World Herald ^ | Feb. 22, 2015 | Cole Epley

Posted on 02/22/2015 8:59:13 AM PST by Mean Daddy

If it’s been a while since you took stock of the age and vitality of your water heater, now would be a good time to do so.

Mechanical rooms and homeowners’ appliance budgets are about to get more cramped after April 16, when the latest round of federal standards stipulating increased energy efficiency of residential water heaters takes effect.

The standards stem from a 1987 Department of Energy law called the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act.

Water heater manufacturers are responding with energy-saving additions like advanced electronics, more insulation and heat pumps, which means new units promise to get taller, wider and more complicated than their less-efficient predecessors.

(Excerpt) Read more at omaha.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141 next last
To: vette6387

Tankless does have advantages.

I prefer to have an additional 40 gal or so of water on site just in case something happens to the municipal water supply...


21 posted on 02/22/2015 9:26:21 AM PST by null and void (People who deny history are trying to recreate it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SZonian

Can’t DIY here, must have the proper licenses and permits to install..............


22 posted on 02/22/2015 9:27:36 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: central_va
TITAN SCR2 N120 Electric Tankless.

$200.00 buy two since they have a habit of breaking after a few years of use.

23 posted on 02/22/2015 9:28:00 AM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jpsb

i use propane, anyone have tankless propne?


24 posted on 02/22/2015 9:29:36 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

My tankless water heater is awesome. The only real problem is that it will require flushing periodically if you have hard water and don’t run a water softener. Calcium builds up in the heater core and you need to flush about once a year.

Prices have come way down on these units (they are dirt cheap outside of the US) and the energy savings pays the difference.

We have PG&E here in the SF Bay area and gas bills are pretty high. My Tankless is in the attic which gets the nasty water heater out of the garage.


25 posted on 02/22/2015 9:30:09 AM PST by caltaxed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SteveAustin
Hey Steve

Unless you have a large family or entertain a lot it's not a good deal

Spend $1000+ to save $1-8 a month, Maintenance: heavy Expensive, parts Expensive repairs

(because of water deposits it needs to be flushed out once a year with chemicals...)

26 posted on 02/22/2015 9:30:14 AM PST by virgil283 (..The Founding Fathers!: The Gun loving, Bible thumping, Constitutionalists Who Started America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

The trouble with tankless is for where I live, with the incoming water temp, I cannot get the heat gain, per unit volume to actually get HOT water.


27 posted on 02/22/2015 9:31:18 AM PST by Ouderkirk (To the left, everything must evidence that this or that strand of leftist theory is true)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: HotHunt

I am still irritated over the low flow water filters Samsung came out for their refrigerators. The size of the glasses didn’t change. Just wasting my time.


28 posted on 02/22/2015 9:31:20 AM PST by UB355 (Slower traffic keep right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: UB355

The low flow hose nozzles are just as frustrating.


29 posted on 02/22/2015 9:32:11 AM PST by UB355 (Slower traffic keep right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: SZonian

I was in Home Depot one time and asked an employee where the ‘Hot water heaters’ were.

He said, “We don’t sell hot water heaters.”

I said, “You don’t????”

He said, “No sir, we only sell cold water heaters.”.............


30 posted on 02/22/2015 9:34:11 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“He said, “No sir, we only sell cold water heaters.”.............”

In a sense,he has a point.

.


31 posted on 02/22/2015 9:35:19 AM PST by Mears (To learn, who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."~~Voltaire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: HotHunt
Just replaced the water heater in my house in Arizona last month. It lasted a miraculous 19 years. We live in a new house in Florida with a new water heater. Should be set for a while. Famous last words.

Our is at 19 years and holding....

32 posted on 02/22/2015 9:35:30 AM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Oh yes you can get a tankless propane for under $100. I have one I use in my “man cave”, lol. Just read the reviews and watch out for complains about changing water temperature. Mine has that problem and it kinda sucks to have the water temp change in the middle of a shower.


33 posted on 02/22/2015 9:35:45 AM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: null and void

“I prefer to have an additional 40 gal or so of water on site just in case something happens to the municipal water supply”

A good thing to have in earthquake country.


34 posted on 02/22/2015 9:36:21 AM PST by Pelham (The refusal to deport is defacto amnesty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“I was in Home Depot one time and asked an employee where the ‘Hot water heaters’ were.”

Why would you want to heat hot water?


35 posted on 02/22/2015 9:37:08 AM PST by Oliviaforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

LOL! So very true...on the most basic level...but if you really think about it, the heater does keep hot water hot...

I call ‘em water heaters...less wordy and still accurate.


36 posted on 02/22/2015 9:38:28 AM PST by SZonian (Throwing our allegiances to political parties in the long run gave away our liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Oliviaforever

To keep it that way, of course.


37 posted on 02/22/2015 9:39:46 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I can understand this to a point...afterall, if you replumb the gas and water lines one can create a lot of problems if not done correctly.

I’d settle for permits and an inspection, but the license thing goes a bit too far in my opinion.


38 posted on 02/22/2015 9:42:02 AM PST by SZonian (Throwing our allegiances to political parties in the long run gave away our liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Mean Daddy
instant on, endless hot water units are the only way to go...
39 posted on 02/22/2015 9:42:29 AM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveAustin
Does anyone here have a tankless they can comment on?

I can tell you a couple things, first if your Nat. Gas supply line is only 1/2" to the existing tank unit you need to pay to have a 3/4" line put in, I can't speak for propane. Second the only instant part of the heat happens in the units exchanger, unless you have a circulating pump in the system which when I was trained also required a 30 gal. elect water heater tank for storage, though not wired up. Third you need to install a quality whole house filter or you will be paying for it to be demineralized maybe yearly and still replace after a few years. If the plumber doesn't tell you these things during his sales spiel you better find a new one. So you have to consider these cost to decide if the unit will save you money over the average ten or so life of a conventional water heater.

40 posted on 02/22/2015 9:45:18 AM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson