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NAECA Hot Water Heater Regulations 2015

Watch Tank Booster Pro and NAECA 2015 Regulations on YouTube.

Residential Hot Water Heater Appliance Changes

A 2015 update to the U.S. minimum energy conservation standards officially went into effect on April 16, 2015. These standards impact the size of water heaters as well as space restrictions. Under the new NAECA (National Appliance Energy Conservation Act) regulations, most storage-type water heaters must be larger in size to comply with stricter minimum energy efficiency standards, ultimately requiring them to have a larger storage tank and more space for installation. All water heaters sold after April 16, 2015 will be subject to the updated NAECA 2015 regulations, and these new energy efficiency standards will be mandated on all residential water heaters.

Hot Water Heater Regulations:

Larger Tank For More Storage

Larger water heaters will require more space for installation. The same water heater you have now could, under the new standards, increase in both diameter and height by 2”. For example, due to added insulation, a 30-gallon water heater will become approximately the same size as a current 40-gallon water heater**.

For installations where space is an issue, like in closets or multifamily housing, a smaller capacity water heater will be necessary. That means replacing the 30-gallon water heater with a 20-gallon water heater due to the size constraints.

If you are installing an electric water heater that is more than 55 gallons, it will now have to be a heat pump water heater. This will increase your equipment cost by more than double.

** Will vary by manufacturer.

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How Cash Acme Fits in With the NAECA 2015 Regulations

The NAECA 2015 regulations are important to all stakeholders in the supply and maintenance of water heaters because they ultimately reduce energy usage and save money on a yearly basis. According to the U.S. DOE, “standards mandatory in 2015 will save approximately 3.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $63 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044.”

We want our distributors, customers and installers to feel confident that Cash Acme products can continue to supplement water heaters that comply with the new hot water heater efficiency standards. There’s still no need to worry about hot water delivery and capacity issues.

Hot Water Safety and Scalding Prevention

You may ask yourself, “Why can’t a water heater just be set to 120°F?” The short answer is that Legionella bacteria thrive in warm water environments (i.e. 120°F or less), and is thus a potential problem in hot water distribution systems. Water stored at 120°F or less can provide ideal conditions for the growth of Legionella bacteria within the water heater. It is necessary to store water at 140°F or higher to minimize bacteria growth.

Protect your family and increase the safety of your home’s hot water system. By increasing the temperature on your water heater to 140°F (60°C), you greatly reduce the chance of growing Legionella or other bacteria within your tank. But, at 140°F (60°C), water can cause third-degree burns in children in one second and in adults in five seconds.

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Learn more about scalding facts and prevention here: Cash Acme Hot Water Safety

The Cash Acme Solution

Installing a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV), like the Cash Acme Tank Booster PRO—an easy-to-install water heater mixing valve—will increase your usable hot water capacity by up to 100% without increasing the size of your tank, especially when you have to “downsize” when replacing your water heater after April 16, 2015 in compliance with the NAECA 2015 regulations. The Tank Booster PRO will allow the water in the storage tank to be stored at 140°F and delivered to the fixture at 120°F.

Adding this mixing valve allows for additional hot water without having to buy a larger water heater, which is ideal in situations where space is limited. Additionally, the Tank Booster PRO is a fail-safe system; in the event of hot water exceeding 120°F and no available cold water flow, the valve shuts down and prohibits potentially dangerous water delivery completely. Read more about tank size change implications and the Cash Acme Tank Booster PRO as an add-on solution.

Downloadable Resources: Tank Booster PRO Flier | Tank Booster PRO Brochure

 


Learn more about the NAECA 2015 regulation updates and new residential hot water heater standards, as well as how industry leaders and OEM manufacturers are preparing these new energy efficiency standards: