Whether you use a gas or electric water heater, most people often choose to purchase a new hot water heater either when their current one starts to break or when new models come out in mid-April. However, now is a great time to change your water heater due to both changing technology and government standards and it will save you a substantial amount of money.
First and foremost, new residential water heater energy-efficiency standards will go into effect April 16 that require changes to most water heaters with a capacity of 55 gallons or less to have more installation space, and those larger than 55 gallons in capacity will see even greater changes and requirements. Thus, to save on considerable remodeling that may be required of hot water heater replacement following April 16, now is a great time to purchase and install a new water heater.
In addition, new tanks can cost up to $200 more than current models due to changes in technology. As these technological changes are often quite nominal, going with a current model before the new models come out in April can save one a considerable amount of money on a hot water heater replacement.
In addition, the labor required to install new water heaters is set to rise greatly due to owners’ needing an independent 110v GFI run to the location of the water heater. New heaters will have plugs on them and will require an 110v outlet nearby to supply power to the computer board and electronic flue damper. Therefore, the present is a great time to install a new water heater so as to avoid these new and costly requirements.
In addition, there are a number of new changes that will be coming with the new tanks that include the exclusion of a standing pilot light in return for electronically controlled gas valves and flue dampers. While all of these changes will help result in greater efficiency, to get the most bang for your buck, we highly recommend making the switch now to avoid extra costs.
