2015 New Rules for Water Heaters

[Nolan Kienitz]

NAECA (National Appliance Energy Conservation Act) rolls into effect this spring and affects water heaters.

Many of the W/H manufacturers have information about this and the impact to manufacturers, builders, installers and ultimately the homeowner.

Here is a PDF from State ...

Download Attachment: NAECA_Builder_Brochure.pdf

785.95?KB

Just ran across this URL for what is called:

Appliance Standards Awareness Project

[Chad Fabry]

Not much of a deal in the land of basements.

[inspector57]

Notice "Standards for gas water heaters were not analyzed in the report because, based on current information, condensing gas water heaters are not cost-effective for consumers." from the ASAP document.

Even though they are not cost effective, they appear to be required...

[inspector57]

Not much of a deal in the land of basements.

If larger electric heaters are used in a basement (requiring a heat pump style heater), the resulting cold room created in basements may well become an issue, also closets or small rooms may prevent the use of heat pumps.

My guess is the use of multiple smaller units (less than 55 gallons) may well be a workaround employed instead of a single larger unit.

[Steven Hockstein]

The end result...

There will be people selling black market illegal water heaters because there will be no easy way to replace your existing water heater in a confined space and use the existing chimney flue.

There will be companies that make a business of "Fixing" old heaters.

There will be many improperly installed and dangerous heaters because no permits will be obtained and legitimate contractors will not install illegal heaters.

A few people will end-up dead from improper installs.

[kurt]

Republicans are in charge now. Maybe they'll roll it back.

[Scottpat]

I predict we will be seeing a bunch of 50 gallon tanks in tandem!

[kurt]

I predict we will be seeing a bunch of 50 gallon tanks in tandem!

I agree. I'd certainly be doing it that way.

[inspector57]

We already see that as the rule. Of course they stick them in the attic since we don't have basements. Tough to get a 75 gallon through the access.

[Hearthman]

Current gas 'tall boy" water heaters are already way too tall because just elbowing off the draft hood often results in less than adequate vent rise, cutting elbows to reach the chimney or even downhill runs. This could kill or poison a lot of people especially as the UN tree huggers move us towards their "Sustainability" take-over. On a 40 mbh gas WH with less than 3 ft. of vent rise, you must increase the vent connector to 4". Chop that rise to less than a foot and it will spill out the draft hood rather than fight to get up the chimney or vent. Idiots...