What You Need to Know About Water Heater Regulations

If you’re in the market for a new water heater or need to upgrade your current water heater, this blog post is for you! In April of 2015, new water heater efficiency regulations will take effect. Why should these changes concern you? Keep reading.

New water heater efficiency regulations are going to cost you more money if you wait until after April 2015 to purchase a new water heater. The new energy efficiency mandates from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will force manufacturers of gas, oil or electric fired water heaters to increase their efficiency. Increasing their efficiency will increase their cost.

Gas water heaters that are above 55 gallons will have to convert to a PVC flue. This means they will no longer use a metal pipe. The new piping used will be more expensive. So the question is, do you replace your water heater now or convert your old one?

Here’s a little bit of professional advice. Like any machine in your home, if your water heater is over 10 years old, you need to replace it. We highly recommend you replace it now. If you wait until next year the newly manufactured water heaters will have to meet the new, more expensive standards. Which means it will cost you more money. Consider buying what is currently on the market. You will save money and the water heater will be good for another 10 years, giving you plenty of time to avoid costly upgrades.

We also suggest you consider a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters make hot water when you need it, as long as you need it. That means you will never run out of hot water again. Rinnai tankless water heaters are up to 96 percent efficient which means you can lower your monthly utility bill by as much as $40. Read more about the benefits of a Rinnai tankless water heater here.

The new efficiency standards for residential water heaters will be here before you know it. At Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning we pride ourselves on being open and honest with our customers. We want you to make informed purchases that will save you money in the long run. Take a look at the current condition of your water heater. Are you having issues? Call Chapman at ​317-291-4909 or visit our website today!

Have your water heater inspected by a member of our Chapman | Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing | team