There are numerous articles floating around the internet calling for people to rush out and buy a new water heater before the new NAECA Water Heater standards take affect in April, claiming prices of water heaters and their installation will sky rocket. But are there any truth to these claims? Well, it depends.
NAECA stands for the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, and it calls for new standards in efficiency of water heaters.
The biggest changes in efficiency regulations apply to electric water heaters. Nearly every water heater in Southern California is powered by natural gas, so right there, most of Los Angeles is spared from the biggest potential price increases. The very distant second biggest changes affect gas water heaters if they are over 55 gallons in capacity.
The average medium sized house for an average family generally has water heater less than 55 gallon waters. Large capacity water heaters are generally only found in larger homes or home with large families. And even then, some larger homes actually have two smaller water heaters rather than one large one. So again, the majority of the biggest changes called for by the new regulations only affect a small portion of Southland residents.
To be clear, the new efficiency standards do apply to gas water heaters under 55 gallons as well, but those changes are relatively minor compared to the overall law. Those living in condos who have water heaters in tight closets may also be affected as new water heaters will have larger dimensions, which may require a step down in capacity size to fit into the same space.
Another aspect of the requirements are new PVC flues replacing the old metal flues for water heater exhaust. If your water heater is installed in the middle of your home, replacing the flue could potentially be costly. If your water heater is located at the exterior of your home, changing out the flue is much easier. Very few homes in Los Angeles have a water heater installed down in a basement, so again, many Southland residents are spared from the most potentially costly changes.
So while the new efficiency standards will affect Southern California, overall, Los Angeles will not feel the effects nearly as much as the rest of the country. I think the biggest concern for for those living in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area is the potential for con men who to use the excuse of NAECA to charge thousands more then necessary for installing a new water. As a home inspector, I can not give you a quote on how much it will cost to replace a water heater, as only a licensed plumber can give an accurate quote. For this reason I recommend using a reputable plumber, such as the quality plumbers found in the West Valley Chamber of Commerce.