Water heaters adapt to meet standards
Water heaters are about to change.
The U.S. Department of Energy this month will start enforcing new rules to make water heaters more energy efficient.
Starting April 15, companies no longer will be allowed to manufacture the current style of tank water heaters. Instead, they must make them with more insulation, which will make them larger.
Although these new tanks will be more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, they will require more up-front investment.
“They're going to be costing more,” said Bill Kennihan, owner of Kennihan Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Middlesex Township.
He said he plans to attend a meeting with a water heater manufacturer on April 21 where the full scope of prices will be discussed.
Ken McDonald, owner of Kenneth McDonald Plumbing & HVAC in Connoquenessing Township, said the prices apparently will increase by 25 to 30 percent.
Current tank water heaters and installation at Kennihan can range from $600 to about $1,800, depending on the heater and other factors.
McDonald said installing a 40 gallon gas tank costs about $775.
In addition to the increasing cost, some larger tanks, such as 80-gallon electric tank heaters, will be discontinued. McDonald said that means homeowners with a larger tank will have to make do in the future with a smaller tank and less hot water.
Owners of some extremely large houses may want a second heater.Because of their larger size, newer tanks may not fit in the small spaces the old tanks sometimes are placed, Kennihan said. This is an increasing concern with more people finishing their basements and building tiny rooms for water heaters, he said.“There's probably going to be a lot of people that need remodeling,” Kennihan said.However, he said he also anticipates an increase in people looking to install tankless water heaters, which take up less space and already meet the new regulations.He said these heaters save a lot of energy because they only operate when hot water is needed. Without a tank, he said they can offer an endless supply of hot water. He said these heaters have almost no downsides.Although tankless heaters are more expensive than tank water heaters, they have warranties of 12 to 15 years, compared to the 6-year warranties for tank heaters.McDonald said he normally encourages anybody who has municipal water or a clean well to get a tankless water heater. He said he charges $2,800 to $3,800 to install these heaters.He said he anticipates headaches with warranties on the older tanks. He said he is not sure what might happen if parts on those tanks fail, but the tanks and parts are no longer manufactured.“We don't have the information yet,” McDonald said.He also is concerned there might be time between when the older heaters no longer are in stock and when the new heaters are not yet available when no water heaters might be available.
