As of April 16th 2015, the Water Heater Energy Factor (EF) will see significant updates come into place. New changes to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) mean that all residential gas, tankless gas, and electric water heaters will need to have a higher EF rating. The question is how do these changes effect you?
Understanding the new changes
The changes can be difficult to get to grips with due to the technical terms you are bombarded with. Basically, in a bid to save money and lower carbon emissions, residential water heaters will need to meet a certain energy rating. They need to increase the amount of useful output in comparison to the energy used to heat the water.
How the new changes will affect homeowners
The new changes will affect manufacturers, businesses and homeowners. The main impact it will have is the initial costs you will be required to pay. If you need a new heater, it is likely to cost more initially than it would have done before the regulations came into effect. There is also a possibility you may need to pay to have your existing heater relocated. It could be that the heater would work a lot more efficiently if it was located in a different part of the home.
Changes to gas and electric water heaters
The changes you see will depend upon what type of heater you have. Gas powered heaters will become bigger in diameter and they will also incorporate fully condensing combustion technology. This means the home will need to have condensate disposal.
Electric based heaters will need more insulation. This means they too will become bigger in diameter. It is likely they will have integrated heat pumps. Extra insulation might also be needed for the fittings and pipes.
How much difference will the changes make?
It is estimated that the updates will save around $63 billion over the course of the next 30 years. It will also save around 172 million tons of carbon monoxide. When you look at these figures it’s easy to see why the changes are being put into place.
Overall the new changes will have a significant effect for everyone. It is worth understanding as much as you possibly can about the changes before they come into place. It may also be a good idea to start saving now so you can afford to make any changes necessary before the new rules come into effect. If you need to find out more, don’t hesitate to contact SSI now.