Omaha Steve posts about expensive government regulations

[Carl]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026263177

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 06:46 PM

 Omaha Steve (47,314 posts)

New water heater rules coming; expect more expensive units, tighter fits
 


 


http://www.omaha.com/money/new-water-heater-rules-coming-expect-more-expensive-units-tighter/article_30becf82-a3aa-5cec-ab3f-32119941a401.html

POSTED: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015 12:30 AM
By Cole Epley / World-Herald staff writer

If it’s been a while since you took stock of the age and vitality of your water heater, now would be a good time to do so.

Mechanical rooms and homeowners’ appliance budgets are about to get more cramped after April 16, when the latest round of federal standards stipulating increased energy efficiency of residential water heaters takes effect.

The standards stem from a 1987 Department of Energy law called the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act.

Water heater manufacturers are responding with energy-saving additions like advanced electronics, more insulation and heat pumps, which means new units promise to get taller, wider and more complicated than their less-efficient predecessors.

FULL story at link.

How to choose the right size water heater

Size is of the essence when it comes to choosing a new water heater.

Pay attention to capacity. Too small, and you’re taking a cold shower in the morning. Too big, and you’re paying to heat more water than you’ll ever use.

The U.S. Department of Energy offers the following tips for right-sizing a unit with a storage tank to your home:

>> First, determine your peak hour of usage, or the time of day you use the most hot water. If your family showers in the morning, you cook breakfast and do a load of laundry before going to work, your peak hour of usage will be in the morning.

>> For a family of three, count on using 30 gallons of water (10 gallons each) in the shower, 7 gallons (for a single load) in the washing machine and 4 gallons for hand-washing and food preparation.

>> Adding that usage together gives you peak hour demand of 41 gallons. Water heater manufacturers attach a First Hour Rating, or FHR, that is reflected by this calculation. In the above example, your family of three would need a water heater with an FHR of at least 41.
>> For more information, including how to size a tankless or on-demand water heater, visit http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/sizing-new-water-heater.

>> Visit www.rheem.com/products/water_heating/NAECA_Regulation/ for additional information on federal requirements.

Thanks for making life more difficult assholes.

[franksolich]

Ew, that's gonna hurt Big Steve big time.

If it takes 10 gallons of hot water per shower for an average person, since the big guy's got much more surface to clean, it'll take about 40.

[thundley4]

I'll bet anything these new units will have built-in "safety" features limiting the maximum temperature and automatic shutoffs if too much water is used.

They can't regulate anything without ****ing it up.

[Chris_]

This is the same guy that wants to hand the local gas utility over to the government so he can save a couple bucks a month.

[I_B_Perky]

I'll bet anything these new units will have built-in "safety" features limiting the maximum temperature and automatic shutoffs if too much water is used.

They can't regulate anything without ****ing it up.

I'll say you can pretty much guaran-damn-tee that the maximum temp will be nowhere near the maximum on the old ones, Thundley. They came along and did the same thing to push lawn mowers about 15 years ago. Now the damned things do not have a throttle so you can't run them at high speed anymore.  Sucks if you got high grass. I read somewhere that it was to meet fuel efficiency standards. I ended up making my own little throttle.

So now I bet the water heaters will be set at probably 100 degrees.  Not bad in the summertime but in the winter when you got 40 degree water coming in it gets damned cold quick unless you set it higher. Looks like I'll have to come up with a method to get around that too.   

[thundley4]

I'll say you can pretty much guaran-damn-tee that the maximum temp will be nowhere near the maximum on the old ones, Thundley. They came along and did the same thing to push lawn mowers about 15 years ago. Now the damned things do not have a throttle so you can't run them at high speed anymore.  Sucks if you got high grass. I read somewhere that it was to meet fuel efficiency standards. I ended up making my own little throttle.

So now I bet the water heaters will be set at probably 100 degrees.  Not bad in the summertime but in the winter when you got 40 degree water coming in it gets damned cold quick unless you set it higher. Looks like I'll have to come up with a method to get around that too.   

Our water heater is probably set too high. You can't hold your hand under the hot water without running some cold with it.  It helps get dishes really squeaky clean, though.

[GOBUCKS]

You don't know how nice a shower can be if you haven't taken the democrat flow restrictor out of your shower head.

[diesel driver]

You don't know how nice a shower can be if you haven't taken the democrat flow restrictor out of your shower head.

I got a newer shower head the other day, the "restrictor plate" was made into it, SO, I drilled it out with a 1/4" bit.   

Done my faucets the same way.  "The Boss" got tired of taking 10 minutes to fill the kitchen sink with water.

Why is it any of the government's business how much water I use?  I have a spring, everything I DON'T use ends up in the Gulf of Mexico anyway.