Now, let's look at what makes residential water heaters the same. The short answer to that is the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA), which was created in 1975 to standardize the rules by which appliances were made because states were making their own rules and standards. The NAECA was enacted in 1987 and had various stages or deadlines for certain aspects. Starting in 1990 and ending in 2015 these stages have had major effects on how water heaters sold in the US are made and perform. These stages have made water heaters more energy-efficient and safer to use in our homes. This also means the water heaters available for purchase today are completely different from the water heater you are removing, quite possibly.

​

Essential Differences Between Older And New Hot Water Tanks

​

• The most significant difference is lifespan. If you are replacing a tank that you feel is pretty much new, you see this first hand. Water heaters that are not self-cleaning are to have a service life of less than 8 years. Brands that offer 9- and 12-year tank warranties make those units self-cleaning; therefore, this standard does not apply to 9- and 12-year units. Bradford White makes self-cleaning tanks with a 6-year warranty, so they can offer a warranty upgrade. If your old tank lasted 20 years, you may not feel a warranty is important to you, but without proper research, you may purchase another tank in just a few years.

• Water heaters are more complicated to install. With new safety requirements, hot water tanks are built with sensors and devices that can shut down the water heater until changes are made that let it operate in its ideal circumstances. This can be very frustrating for the do-it-yourselfer or handyman who doesn't understand why the water heater keeps shutting off or, worse yet, won't come back on.

• New water heaters are larger. The same capacity water heater will have a larger footprint now. Often, homeowners will need to downsize in capacity to physically fit a new tank into the same location as the previous one. We have methods on hand to increase the performance of smaller units to supply even more hot water than the older, larger-capacity models. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry; we can help.

• Hot water tanks are more expensive. The research and development of these new water heaters is astounding. Consumers often look at this the wrong way. These manufacturers completely changed how hot water tanks work and operate, keeping so much of it the same. By being able to use the same location and same type of exhaust vent/gas line/electric wire/water pipes a tank replacement is much less expensive overall then if the manufactures just changed to a design that was the easiest to build. Don't look at these new tanks and think they are just so expensive. Tank manufacturers spent an unknown amount of money, effort, and time, making it possible to have a less expensive replacement option while still meeting NECA's strict standards. Without the effort put forth by these tank manufacturers, everyone would have no choice but to replace with a tankless or a tank that costs more than a tankless unit. Manufacturers even banded together to push back NECA standards for the final stage. Stating the price point would be unfair to the consumer if the original efficiency levels stated in 1987 were kept in place. 

​

​

Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of the direction you want to take with your next replacement. If you would like to speak to someone about scheduling an in-home consultation or to discuss your home's options further, please give us a call.

                                                      ​

 For more information on water heater replacements, including pricing. Please click one of the links below to explore further!   

​