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/