New Water Heater Regulations for 2015

The Department of Energy announced new water heater regulations and standards that began April 16, 2015. These changes will effect how water heaters are designed, manufactured, tested, distributed, and installed. These changes will affect manufacturers, wholesalers, installers and customers alike (Bradford White).

For a detailed review of the changes please watch the video below:

All water heaters produced after April 16, 2015 need to conform to new energy standards, making all models run more efficiently. The changes are anticipated to save approximately 3.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $63 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044. The standard will avoid about 172.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 33.8 million automobiles (DOE).

The chart below outlines the increased efficiencies that new models must meet. 

While we all can agree that these are noble and necessary changes, we must also be aware of the inevitable increase in water heater prices that has followed. Bradford White alone anticipates a 15-35% increase on ALL water heater prices to off-set the costs of buying new mandatory machinery, adjusting their factories to handle the new, larger model water heaters, as well as the unforeseen costs of building, inspecting, and shipping the new models.

Bradford White also developed an excellent Q & A section  that outlines how we will be affected by the new regulations. This information can be found on their website at http://www.bradfordwhite.com/doe-department-energy-final-rule-effective-04162015-frequently-asked-questions.

You can also read more on the Department of Energy’s site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/27.

We hope that this information helps prepare you for the road ahead. We understand the importance of making a proper investment in your home with a great water heater and a high quality installation. We want these changes to be as clear to you as possible so if you would like clarification on any of the changes or simply have questions on how you may be affected, please feel free to call us at 303-465-1900.

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At McAdams Plumbing, we get quite a few questions about pulling permits. Some of the most common questions include “what is a permit,” “what does a permit do,” and “why is it important?”

So we thought it might be a good time to address some of those questions in a blog.

With the help of a few other websites, I’ve compiled a list of great answers to those ever elusive permit questions. Let’s discuss!

What Is A Permit?

“A building permit gives you legal permission to start construction of a building project,” says iccsafe.org.

Basically, a permit is the city’s way of recognizing you are changing or adding a structure or system in your home and assuring that this work complies with all city and state codes.

You pay a small percentage fee of the overall cost of the job to have a professional inspector come out (multiple times if needed) to ensure all the work is done as it should be.

When Do You Need A Permit?

Permits are required when major alterations are going to be undertaken or when mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical) will be modified.

Most cities have their own list of home changes that will require inspections. Inquire with you city’s Building Department for more information.

Common projects requiring permit include:

• Water heater installation
• New roof
• Structural additions
• Blocking or adding a door or window
• Adding/relocating plumbing systems
• Adding/relocating electrical systems
• Installing or replacing an air conditioning unit
• Converting an unoccupied space (garage, storage) into a conditioned occupied space

What Does A Permit Do?

A permit helps you save time and money by helping to avoid potential problems with your project.

By working closely with an expert code official you can ensure your project is accomplished correctly, is safe, and will last. Their knowledge of building codes help to ensure your project goes off without a hitch!

Permitting protects you from potential lawsuits as well. If something were to happen with your project causing damage or injury, having a permit proves that you took all necessary precautions.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a permit helps protect the population by reducing the potential hazards cause by unsafe construction practices.

Why Is A Permit Important?

Your home is likely one of the largest investments you’ll make in your life. It’s very important to protect this investment to ensure you benefit from it long term.

If you choose to modify your investment (your home), you can lower its value by not pulling permit.

Future buyers will want proof that modifications were done to code. If you can’t prove this you’ll bet they will want it inspected and you’ll be responsible for the changes required to bring it to code.

In extreme circumstances the city may require you to remove the project, leave it vacant (in cases of a full room remodel), or make costly repairs.

Many property insurers or warranters may not cover work done without proper permitting.

Lastly, city Building Officials also have the authority to require owners of new homes to bring projects performed by previous owners up to code or otherwise face penalties. This is why it is so important to have your home inspected by licensed professionals before you buy it.

Hopefully that caught you up and what permits are and why they are important for your home, your family, and your community.

Thanks for reading along!

The Proof is in the Plumbing!

References

CPM Real Estate Inspections. Building Permits are Very important to Buyers. Web. 2014. Accessed 9 June, 2014.

ecitygov.net. Why Get Permits and Inspections. Web. 2008. Accessed 9 June, 2014.

International Code Council. Benefits of Building Permits. Web. ND. Accessed 9 June, 2014. 

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