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Economical Tankless Gas Water Heaters are now Banned in the USA by Dept of Energy

Melensdad

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
Effective the day after Christmas, a new rule was put into place.

Quietly.

No press release issued.

ZeroHedge caught it and reports:

Biden Quietly Bans Most Gas Powered Tankless Water Heaters | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

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Biden Quietly Bans Most Gas Powered Tankless Water Heaters​

In a significant regulatory shift that took place quietly the day after Christmas, the Biden administration finalized new climate rules targeting natural gas-powered instantaneous water heaters. The Department of Energy (DOE), which traditionally issues a press release for such regulations, chose not to announce these changes publicly, raising eyebrows across various sectors.​
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According to the Free Beacon, the new regulations aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a move aligned with broader climate change mitigation efforts. However, the regulations are set to remove approximately 40% of the current tankless water heater models from the market by 2029 (between gas and electric). This shift is expected to force consumers to opt for either more expensive or less efficient alternatives.​
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An industry analysis forecasts that the average cost increase for new water heaters due to the regulations will be around $450. This price hike is poised to disproportionately affect low-income and senior households, who are among the most reliant on the more affordable models currently targeted for phase-out.​
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Meanwhile, the timing of these regulations is noteworthy - coming in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has expressed intentions to roll back many of Biden's climate initiatives to bolster energy production and stimulate economic growth. This regulatory push on water heaters is part of a series of actions targeting household appliances, including gas stoves and refrigerators, aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting electric alternatives.​
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Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, criticized the move, stating, "It bans an entire category of tankless water heaters and the ones that are most affordable. This is all part of the climate change agenda...an antipathy towards natural gas because they want to electrify everything."​
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Industry's Response and Legal Challenges​
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The regulation has sparked extensive debate about its legality and practicality. The American Gas Association has hinted at possible legal action, suggesting that the rule might violate the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which prohibits banning products that offer unique performance characteristics.​
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Frank Windsor, president of Rinnai America, the nation's leading manufacturer of tankless water heaters, voiced strong opposition. He highlighted the contradiction in eliminating higher-efficiency product categories- telling the Beacon, "If you really want to impact the water heating ruling, you really need to deal with the tank models." Rinnai America, having invested $70 million in a new facility in Georgia based on the previous administration's manufacturing incentives, finds itself at risk of seeing its investment become obsolete under the new rules.​
 
Sadly I have several of these units NIB destined for my ranch where having many separate buildings makes a single big water heater impractical. They are great for under the counter water heaters. They only come on when you need them to. Making them very energy efficient.

I am glad I bought them when they were still legal.
 
Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, criticized the move, stating, "It bans an entire category of tankless water heaters and the ones that are most affordable. This is all part of the climate change agenda...an antipathy towards natural gas because they want to electrify everything."


Most storage tank heaters are gas
Most tankless heaters are electric.
This ruling
\


makes no sense.
 
I don't think most full size tankless are electric, are they? The electric service to heat the equivalent of a 199,000 btu gas unit has to be huge.
I'm thinking it would need 100 amps@240vac.
 
waybomb said:
I don't think most full size tankless are electric, are they? The electric service to heat the equivalent of a 199,000 btu gas unit has to be huge.
I'm thinking it would need 100 amps@240vac.
Click to expand...
That's not how the under cabinet tankless work. Mine are 15 amp full initial load & backing off as the temp rises. It takes very little power to keep two quarts of water warm. Some don't even do that. Water flows, they come on. At least the ones I have do. But here's the thing. The big 60 gallon tank in the basement is sometimes 30-40 feet away from the spigot. These units heat that first rush of cold water until the hot stuff arrives. You get instant hot water instead of pouring 3-4 gallons of cool water down the drain.

This is a problem I have in my house. I run water better than a minute to get the 40 feet of copper pipes hot and water delivered hot to do dishes. So I will install a unit under the sink in the kitchen, then plug it to an outlet (already installed) with a switch( already installed) topside. Flip the switch and turn on the tap. Hot water.

These units are supposed to heat water only when and where you use it.
 
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The gas units they are going after are whole house units. Not point of use. I don't think there are any point of use gas units.
In any event, every day we lose at least one freedom.
 
waybomb said:
The gas units they are going after are whole house units. Not point of use. I don't think there are any point of use gas units.
In any event, every day we lose at least one freedom.
Click to expand...
That may be true but, I don't see why they are targeting water heaters that don't keep water hot 24 /7 which is a waste. One reason I switched to an electric water heater was to reduce gas consumption. Electricity cost more but I was a convert back then. The again, the electric doesn't cycle full on and off like the gas does.
 
Just about everything with this climate agenda makes no sense. Just control and fear.

I went from a 50 gallon tanked electric heater to an instant 199k btu gas. Gas cost went up about 25 a month. Electric dropped almost 100 a month.
 
waybomb said:
Just about everything with this climate agenda makes no sense. Just control and fear.

I went from a 50 gallon tanked electric heater to an instant 199k btu gas. Gas cost went up about 25 a month. Electric dropped almost 100 a month.
Click to expand...
As I mentioned, they are more efficient.
Biden is just loading up on EO's to make Trump's first few days more difficult. None of the White House crap in the last 30 days is useful or good for the nation.

Just like the last four years.
 
I tell you what is NOT economical.

I have an 80 gallon hot water heater in my utility room. It is natural gas, and it is high quality unit. But it is also 30 years old. I put it in when we were building the house in 1994. Moved in Jan 11 1995. I know that because we moved in 4 days after Melen was born (1/7/95). I've looked and probably will go with one of the expensive high output N.G. TANKLESS water heaters when this one goes out.

But if the small 15 gallon unit in my garage/workshop/guest apartment goes out I'd really like one of the cheaper models that runs on N.G. It rarely will be used, why would I want to spend a lot on a modest size unit that would rarely be used? These stupid energy mandates just drive up the price of everything.

Honestly I blame the government mandates and regulations for the HIGH PRICE of just about every damn thing, from light bulbs to water heaters to toilets to cars!
 
I believe there would have to be a new lawsuit that would cite the Chevron ruling, which would have to work its way through the courts.
 
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