Questions About Upcoming 2028 WH & Furnace Mandates

[cb_db]

First time posting here. Current setup is an atmospheric venting WH and 80% efficiency furnace sharing a flue. Both units are in a closet in the garage with combustion air from the outside through an 8" concrete wall (basically a 9x8 sq/in hole with a grille). WH is 11 years old. Furnace is 10 years old.

Not wanting to sit around and wait for it to leak I wanted to be proactive and swap it out for a new unit with the same specs. I then read about the 2028 ban on all atmospheric venting WHs (except powered damper units) and also requiring new furnaces to be 95% efficiency.

Should I go ahead and install a power-vented WH now in anticipation of the ban? My hesitation in doing this right now is cost and effort (I'd be self-installing and coring out the concrete). But, once the furnace goes out I'll be forced to install a high-efficiency unit with new venting which then means my atmospheric WH will need to be replaced too. Any thoughts?

 

[Fitter30]

Usually furnace is over sized. If existing furnace is satisfactory it will get sized by output not input and blower will be sized by tonage of the ac. Flues can be consentric vent which will have one opening in the foundation per unit. Which will provide combustion air and flue. WH can be a direct vent that provides combustion air and flue in a tank style. Holes can be core drilled.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

But, once the furnace goes out I'll be forced to install a high-efficiency unit with new venting which then means my atmospheric WH will need to be replaced too. Any thoughts?

Why would the furnace change cause you to change the still-working WH?

 

[John Gayewski]

Not sure i know what ban your talking about. Elaborate and share your source.

 

[cb_db]

@Reach4: I guess I jumped the gun a bit. What I meant to say is once I install a high-efficiency furnace I'll have an orphaned WH. So I'm thinking replace the WH now with a high-efficiency unit. Keep my mid-efficiency furnace for hopefully 5-8 more years and then swap that out for a high-efficiency unit?

@John Gayewski: https://hvac-blog.acca.org/non-condensing-furnace-ban-upheld-what-it-means-for-your-business/

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

They claim that in 2029 all water heaters have to be power vented units....
and I think its going to be a nightmare for plumbers

If your water heater is pretty old and about to go out you can install the power vented unit
in anticipation of this changeover that is supposed to happen.... I suggest you get one with an
extended warranty like 10 or 12 years....

on another note.
In 2003 when the standard water heaters were canceled out and the new FVIR heaters came onto the market
we bought about 200 of the old style Rheem gas heaters in both 40 and 50 to tide us over . WE filled the
building up to the ceilings with them....We made out like bandits
because the new units cost about 125 more than the old ones cost us. and the new style heaters had
some serious issues that had to be worked out.

It probably would be wise if you were a company to buy up a load of the FVIr heaters before the deadline
and hold onto them because people will be begging for them over the pain in the ass of installing the
power vented units with new pvc pipes needing to be installed..... even used heaters will be in demand too

I plan on hanging up my spurs before this insanity comes into affect.... its going to be a clusterfuc/

 

[Slomoola]

OMG, this is going to be a gold mine for the HVAC crews. All these 95% units are so unreliable. Natural gas in my area (Oklahoma) is so cheap. No reason to get one today. Good ol' reliable 80% unit is the bees knees.

You should be able to get something else off facetrash marketplace and have it installed if needed. Other than a 95% unit that is.