Starting this Thursday (April 16, 2015) there are new EPA rules in place for the efficiency of water heaters. For those that have electric water heaters 55 gallons and higher, the only way to meet the EPA guidelines will be to pay through the nose and get a hybrid water heater. They are much, much bigger than the old style water heaters and may not fit in your existing space where you have you current water heater.
For those with smaller electric water heaters (less than 55 gallons), the new guidelines will mean that there will be much more insulation built into your unit in order to meet the minimum .96 energy factor and they will be taller/fatter than current models.
From what I can gather, manufacturers and stores will be able to sell their current inventories of the older style heaters, and once those supplies are exhausted you will be out of luck.
I had a new Rheem water heater put in last June (40 gallon size) and it is their top of the line Platinum series and has an energy factor of .95 which would NOT meet the new requirements.
If your electric water heater is old or on its way out you may want to get a new one soon or you're going to be shocked at not only the limited choices, but also at both the prices of the new units as well as the increase in installation costs...
For those with smaller electric water heaters (less than 55 gallons), the new guidelines will mean that there will be much more insulation built into your unit in order to meet the minimum .96 energy factor and they will be taller/fatter than current models.
From what I can gather, manufacturers and stores will be able to sell their current inventories of the older style heaters, and once those supplies are exhausted you will be out of luck.
I had a new Rheem water heater put in last June (40 gallon size) and it is their top of the line Platinum series and has an energy factor of .95 which would NOT meet the new requirements.
If your electric water heater is old or on its way out you may want to get a new one soon or you're going to be shocked at not only the limited choices, but also at both the prices of the new units as well as the increase in installation costs...