Are you Ready for Water Heater Standards to Change in April?

After April 16, the U.S. Department of Energy’s manufacturing standards for all water heaters sold in the United States will change. This revision will be implemented in an effort to increase energy efficiency in homes and businesses, with an approximate savings of $63 billion in energy bill spending through 2044. While appealing on paper, this change will however have an effect on homeowners in the Brooklyn and Manhattan area.

Here are some top highlights to consider from the pros at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning:

• All water heaters manufactured after April 16, 2015 will have to adhere to new standards for energy efficiency, meaning, current models either installed or on sale will no longer be available to purchase new.
• Because these new units will have to be more efficient than their previous models, they will, as a result, be taller and wider than before. This means that many existing water heater spaces in tight, New York City homes, will not be large enough to fit the newer units.
• An increase in efficiency will come at a cost – most revised units will see an increase in price of up to 35 percent.
• Given the revised units will be different sizes, it is highly encouraged to have any unit purchased after April 16 professionally installed to avoid any complications should a unit have to be relocated and re-piped.
• Units currently on sale and installed will not have to be replaced and will continue to be compliant with homeowners after April 16. This means that if a consumer is interested in purchasing a new water heater to avoid installation complications, they need to do so before the change date.

Keeping your home at its peak efficiency is important, even if that means operating a pre-standards change water heater. While the news of the standards change may appear daunting, consulting trusted home plumbing professionals, like Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, can ensure you make the right decision for your home water heater needs. Petri offers specialized consultation and assessments to Brooklyn and Manhattan homeowners curious about their water heater systems and in many cases, purchasing a unit now is encouraged to avoid costly remodeling projects in the future. To find out what is the best route to take for your Brooklyn or Manhattan home, give the trusted home plumbing experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Inc. a call today at (718) 748-1254.