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 ...
” put a damn digital timer switch on it to cut it on and off prior to peak or usual usage.”
That’s what I did when I lived on the 1830 farm that had no gas connection. Insulated the cr@p out of it and it’s pipes. It was okay. I’ve installed hundreds of water heater tanks, but I think my next one will be a tankless.
She’s based in Indianapolis.
She was one of the biggest pro-gay agitators when the Indiana RFRA law was passed claiming her biz would not be able to hire quality employees.
This is for residential and commercial water heaters 55 gals. and up. Not lowboys under a house. So this is a lot of them.
A true annoyance of dubious value, forced on installers by our epa— which was NEVER supposed to be an AGENCY of the federal govt. Now dictating our water supply, streams and how we heat our water for our homes.
Look at your usage years for what you have, and replace if needed. or wash/flush it out and replace the heating element. No way of knowing if the tank, if metal has rusted out otherwise. Have never understood why there is not a microwave electric water heater with insulated super glass tank. No, we have to have some genius cook up the idea of a heat pump installed on the unit... that is, an airconditioner that sits on top of a hot water tank.
Only govt. could come up with that.
I’ll just wait for the L.E.D. ones to come out.
You never save any money with these high efficiency appliances. The first time it breaks all the money you “saved” gos to repair it. I can tell you that from fixing appliances and heating systems.
I just had my water heater replaced. The plumber told me if I had to have one of the new ones my WH closet would have to be enlarged, which is not possible due to it’s location in the house. I wonder how many $700 WH jobs are now $2500 jobs because the only option space wise is a Tankless heater.
“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.”
If I install the hot water heater myself .... Who will know?
Heat pump water heaters need a lot of warm air to work. Several hundred cubic feet in fact, a lot more space than is in a closet or a small basement room. In addition to the height, this is another reason you might not be able to install one of the new water heaters where your current water heater lives. Oh, and whatever room you do end up putting it in is going to be as cold as a freezer.
“Many installations that were once a one-person job may now require two people,” Sanborn added. “As water heaters get larger and heavier, they prove to be too awkward to handle by one person. This is especially true when talking about those models over 55 gallons. Service trucks may also need to change to accommodate transporting the taller, wider and heavier equipment.”
Price of installation is going up, in other words. After all, it's only the peasant's money, isn't it?
While all affected models will see an increase in the EF requirement, the most dramatic changes are in larger capacity models. That’s because the only technologies that now meet the EF requirements over 55 gallons are electric heat pump water heaters and high-efficiency condensing gas water heaters.
The best legislation that money can buy.
Somebody made a killing in the stock market, after the CONgresscritters that wrote the bill made a killing in the stock market...
This is the Angie Hicks who pulled out of Indiana because of its “anti-gay” religious freedom bill? THAT Angie Hicks? Woman wouldn’t have an agenda would she?
Many plumbing warehouses have anticipated the upgrade, and have stocked up on the older units, whose warranty doesn't begin until the unit is installed .
THe additional cost is around $150.oo for the newer units
but as noted, there are different size requirements, whereby the newer units will no longer fit in already established replacment areas.
So , you may have to call around ...
Thank you EPA for saving us money, by costing us more,..
Don't forget ,.., the 'Science is already in ' ( B.S. !!)
Have tankless here. VERY small.
That’s getting to the age where I think about preemptive replacement.
Wait until it breaks.
Most residential water heaters around here are 50 gallons and they're still on the shelves as usual.
Last October I bought a tankless water heater and had a friend install it.
Takes up a LOT less space, and I never run out of hot water.
It saves energy because it doesn’t have to try and keep dozens of gallons of water hot when nobody is using it.
As cool as it is, I’d hate it if I was forced to install it against my wishes.
>> Wait until it breaks.
Yeah, that’s what they tell me. Still going strong, for now, though.
You're just saying that because it's true...
Every water heater that is over ten years old that I have flushed out started leaking after from the tank. I say if it is electric leave it alone and let the minerals build up.
That's the issue. If you can, go for it. If not, you'll have to hire someone. That's why I said if you're not able to install it yourself...
That being said, in most cities today, the city will require a permit for a water heater. I can't remember exactly how it went, but where I live (Rio Rancho, NM), the Lowes wouldn't even sell me a gas water heater (electric may be different) out the door. Had to have an installer, and permit/inspection lined up.
Yeah , that same Angie Hicks .
She is all about supporting "Progressive" causes, and supports only Demo-rat party.
I replaced her with the phone book, and a call to the Better Business Bureau,... and saved the membership fee.
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