When I wrote about water heaters yesterday, I wasn’t aware of the proposal by the Department of Energy for new Energy Efficiency Standards.
Why it matters: The new rules are eliminating an important category of tankless hot water heaters, the more affordable non-condensing version.
- But it’s not too late to make your voice heard.
👇 Skip to the end for a link to a letter you can email to your representatives.
⛏️ Dig deeper Matt Risinger unpacks this issue on his latest podcast. Listen on Spotify or Apple.
🏎️ Catch up quick
- Gas-fired tankless hot water heaters fall into two categories, condensing and non-condensing.
- Non-condensing are less expensive to purchase and install. Dealing with condensate means you have to have a drain line or pump — just like your air handler for your AC.
- Non-condensing are WAY MORE efficient than the gas-fired tank water heaters that are not being eliminated.
- The unintended consequences of this rule (which goes into effect in 2029) will be to push consumers toward lower cost but less efficient tank versions — which also last half as long.
✅ For your Smart Homeowner list
- If you want to protect your options, tankless water heater industry leader Rinnai has prepared a letter for you to send.
- Read the DOE’s press release here.
Best,
Travis