However, that was last year, and in the interim, bureaucrats in Washington have subtly persisted in interfering with numerous other household appliances, which could have detrimental effects on customers in the coming years.
- Furnaces: By 2028, a new DOE efficiency rule will essentially forbid the installation of any new non-condensing gas furnaces. Many older homes still use these non-condensing models, so those that need to replace them would typically be better off going with a simpler replacement instead of dealing with the potentially expensive installation issues that come with switching to a condensing gas furnace, which has very different venting requirements. Even the organization acknowledges a $867 cost.
- Others, however, believe that this is a conservative estimate considering everything that switching from a non-condensing to a condensing unit can involve.
- 2. Water Heaters: Those looking to purchase a new electric water heater should do so before 2029, as an additional DOE efficiency criterion is expected to drive up costs by an estimated $953. Similar to the furnace rule, the DOE asserts that homeowners will save enough energy to offset the higher initial cost of these sophisticated water heaters. In actuality, many households would likely lose money as a result of the rule, particularly if installation expenses prove to be greater than the frequently optimistic estimates provided by the agency.
