The upcoming revision to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, otherwise known as NAECA, will impact the design of most new water heaters. Under the new NAECA regulations most water heaters will be larger, requiring more space for installation.

What does it mean to you?

A new update to the rules for increasing minimum energy efficiency standards was enacted in 2010 and goes into effect on April 16, 2015. We want our customers to be confident that Red Cap Plumbing is taking the proper steps to be prepared for the new NAECA regulations so you don’t have to worry about the technology and engineering involved. However, those improvements will impact you in a number of ways, and you need to be aware of them when planning for the replacement of existing water heaters.

Water Heaters Under 55 Gallons

• The height of a new unit with the same gallon capacity as an existing unit may be two or more inches taller
• The diameter of a new unit that has the same gallon capacity as an existing unit may be two or more inches wider
• For units under 55 gallons, add a minimum of three or more inches when planning the space

Replacement Options

• For installations where space is not an issue, units of similar gallon capacity but larger in physical size can be installed.
• For installations where space is an issue, a similar unit with smaller gallon capacity may be installed or a unit with different technology may be a good option.

Water Heaters Over 55 Gallons

• Water heaters that are larger than 55 gallons will undergo the biggest changes. They may require more space or potentially switching models.
• All residential electric models over 55 gallons must be of the Hybrid Electric heat pump water heater type design
• All residential gas models over 55 gallons must be of the condensing water heater type design

Applications to Watch For
If the water heater you’re replacing is located in a garage or full basement, the size changes may not be a problem at all. However, you will need to pay particular attention to any installations in closets and alcoves as well as in multi-family housing locations (apartments and condos) where space is limited. Also, installations where access is gained by using a narrow doorway may present a challenge. Customers should compare replacement expense vs. unit performance because certain replacement options that weren’t ideal before the NAECA 2015 change may now be more attractive based on new unit designs.

Sell-thru timelines vs. Manufacturing
The NAECA regulation effective date of April 16, 2015, applies only to the manufacture of water heaters. Manufacturers, distributors and contractors may continue to sell products manufactured prior to this date for an indefinite period of time.

The NAECA Guidelines
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regulates minimum energy efficiency requirements for water heaters. The first set of regulations—known as the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA)—were created in 1990 and later updated in 2004 to the current standards. A new update to the rules for increasing minimum energy efficiency standards was enacted in 2010 and goes into effect on April 16, 2015.

See guidelines below: