Posted on 04/14/2015 2:44:39 PM PDT by smokingfrog
First it was light bulbs, now Uncle Sam wants your water heater to be more efficient - and it could cost you a lot more money to comply with the new rules.
Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks, said new regulations will save money in the long run. “Your water heater is the second largest consumer of energy in your home right behind your heating and cooling system. So, any improvement in your water heaters efficiency is going to pay dividends in your monthly utility bills.”
But it will cost you more in the short term, if you need to buy a new one once the new rules take effect in April.
“It’s going to be bigger. It’s going to be taller. It’s going to take up more room. A lot of water heaters are installed in a very tight quarters. So, all of these things could be a major impact if you are replacing a water heater after April in 2015,” said water heater expert, Chip Cochran.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcactionnews.com ...
Plumbing contractors with water heaters that comply with existing standards are working around the clock to install them for residential and small commercial customers with existing units that are more than 10-years old.
Building contractors should be aware that NAECA-compliant water heaters are larger and heavier than traditional units. The space traditionally allotted to these products may have to change. Some of the new products will also require changes in venting, power, and condensate removal, which will also have to be factored into the design of water heater space. And finally, some added features or new technologies, such as heat pumps, will introduce noise levels that did not have to be considered in the past when selecting product placement.
In sum, those who wish to replace existing units with currently compliant new units must act swiftly. For those looking to future installations, significant planning could be required.
As always, of course, if you like your old water heater, you can keep it.
I just looked at ours - installed Oct 1999.
Guess should look into buying new one?
Even if you don’t need one now....buy one and store for future use.
For later.
You can still, if electric one, replace the heating element by simply unscrewing the old one out (after draining the water of course) and putting a new one in.
Then, to be even more efficient this all this horse hockety epa mandated BS-— put a damn digital timer switch on it to cut it on and off prior to peak or usual usage.
If using gas— get an on demand gas heater, with a storage tack for quick. Back up either one of these systems with simple do it yourself solar panels, and you’ll cut your water heating down by more than 50%.
This is one annoying govt. isn’t it?
This does NOT apply to smaller units like a 40gal under the house kind. It applies to larger models.
Oh, and the oh so techie dysfunctional HEAT pump on the unit— yeah that will save power. What a laugh.
As long as it doesn’t leak, you can replace the elements.................I have a gas heater for the main part of the house and a small electric in our MB.............
I’m thinking about that...
Gas or electric?
As long as it doesn’t leak you can replace the heating elements when they burn out and get twice the life..........
Thank you Congress! You gravy sucking pigs!
There will be a judgment day. I don’t want to hear you bitching about the tar is hot and the feathers itch.
GE Smartwater heater - Gas
That won’t take long. When we moved in to this house 40 years ago we had a water heater that we did not replace for 30 years and we have replaced it twice since. They aren’t making this stuff to last.
A heat pump water heater would save money, but I’m sure it would probably cost 3-4 times what a standard electric water heater does. Last time I checked, I think they were around a thousand dollars. I imagine the recovery rate would probably be lower too, so you might need a bigger tank.
Apparently, loggers were getting too much work done in the woods...
That may, or may not, work. Depending on the rules and codes. If it’s required after a certain date, and you’re not able to install it yourself, then you’ll have to hire a contractor, who will have to pull permits (yeah, I know, cash is king). Those permits will necessitate inspections, and they may not like your old-style water heater being installed after the cut-off date.
>> As long as it doesn’t leak
On the other hand, eventually, they ALL leak.
We got a gas-fired “demand” heater 3 yrs ago and we love it. However plumbers are not big on them — they are complex (more points of failure) and rely on maintaining good heat transfer with the water (e.g. you have to keep their insides clean, and hard water is a problem). But tell you what — that thing just SIPS propane.
It cost about 80% more than a comparable-quality tank heater though. (~$1200 iirc)
When the hell did Angie’s List get to be the expert on anything? I saw her on a news piece last night spouting off about something that had absolutely nothing to do with anything associated with her ‘business.’
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