What are the 3 Main Water Heater Regulations? And Why are They Important?
As technology has made its way into the world of home appliances, water heaters have undergone many changes in an effort to become more efficient and reliable. With numerous new regulations put on them by the U.S. Department of Energy, water heaters will need to comply with updated efficiency standards that may make it more difficult for some Berkeley people when it comes time to choose a new heater. With water heating making up over 20 percent of a home’s energy costs, these changes will hopefully result in savings for many people. However, before people decide to have a new water heater installed, they should be aware of the new regulations and why they are important.
Efficiency Gains
The most important of the new regulations, efficiency gains are expected to make the most direct impact on Berkeley consumers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average gain in efficiency for most households will be four percent. While that may not sound like much, the result can mean several hundreds of dollars in savings for the average homeowner. With this money being able to be used in other ways, the hope is that the money saved can then be spent in other ways, helping the overall economy.
The 55 Rule
While the majority of water heaters in use today will see modest efficiency gains, it is those which hold more than 55 gallons that will be most affected. Larger water heaters such as these will now be required to use updated technology in the course of operations, such as gas condensing technology and electric heat pump systems.
Because these technologies are very new to consumers, it can lead to many questions when it comes time to replace existing water heaters. In addition, it could lead to higher installation costs due to plumbers having to take longer to install the new units.
Big Heaters in Tight Spaces
In addition to possibly higher installation costs, many of the newer heaters are now bigger than previous models. As a result, some people may find themselves actually having to incur construction costs in order to fit the newer water heaters into their existing spaces.
In these situations, a plumber should be contacted as soon as possible to evaluate the situation. In some circumstances, it may be possible to move the heater to a new location within the house, rather than incurring costs to construct additional space.
Any hold ups regarding your Berkeley, CA water heater? Call Albert Nahman Plumbing at (510) 876-9725 today for any of your repair or maintenance requests.
