New Energy Requirements Affect Florida Homeowners
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (PRWEB) April 15, 2015 -- The http://www..eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/27#recentupdates [National Appliance Energy Conservation Act __title__ National Appliance Energy Conservation Act], which goes into effect on April 16, 2015, mandates new energy efficiency requirements for water heaters and air conditioners. The new regulations will effectively reduce energy use, conserve more natural resources and generate energy cost savings for homeowners.
Depending on climate, water heaters and air conditioners typically have a life of 10 to 15 years. In areas like Florida, these units that are located near the ocean or in exterior spaces may have much shorter life spans.
“The key is to replace your water heater before it fails,” recommends Service America CEO David Crawford. “If you see rust and minor water leaks on or around your water heater, it’s time to replace it before a catastrophic failure occurs. A flood caused by a water heater can result in thousands of dollars in damages to your home.” He also suggests that consumers who choose to replace their water heaters may want to review several proposals from qualified contractors in order to make the best selection without undue pressure.
There are clear benefits to upgrading to a high-efficiency water heater and air conditioning system from lower-efficiency models. Homeowners may reduce their monthly gas or electric bills, and the new units will also perform better.
“If you aren’t ready to replace your water heater now, you don’t have to do anything to your existing unit,” Crawford states. “When you do replace it, though, your only options will be water heaters that meet current NAECA energy efficiency ratings.”
The Department of Energy increased acceptable Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ratings for air conditioning units from 13 to 14, which means that residents and businesses with higher-rated air conditioning units will use less electricity to cool their homes and offices, lowering their electric bills.
A potential cost increase in upgrading a water heater due to the size of the new units; manufacturers had to make the new units larger in order to meet the higher energy ratings. Many of the new, larger units may not fit into the existing spaces available in consumers’ homes. This may require that the unit be relocated to another area in the home, which would require new electrical or gas hookups, resulting in several hundred dollars in additional cost.
In Florida, rebates are available for purchasing and installing new air conditioning units with a SEER rating of 15 or higher. There are currently no rebates or incentives for water heaters.
Homeowners seeking to replace their water heaters or air conditioning units should contact a Service America comfort specialist to determine the best systems to fit their spatial and efficiency needs. Service America will even haul away old systems for its customers.
Service America Enterprise Inc. is a full-service air conditioning, appliance and plumbing service company headquartered in Florida. Service America employs more than 370 professionals who service home systems like air conditioning, plumbing and electrical, and repair major appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, ranges, dishwashers and garbage disposals for those on the company’s annual home service plans. The company specializes in annual home service plans that cover these repairs and replacements as well as air conditioning sales and preventative maintenance. Visit http://www.serviceamerica.com and call 800-884-3500 for more information.
Marjorie Comer, Axia Public Relations, http://www.axiapr.com, +1 (888) 773-4768 Ext: 700, [email protected]
Share this article