H2O heater and enviro-nazis
 

Major rant ahead:

My H2O heater thermostat has been acting up so I decided to replace the heater (the thermostat has those tamper-proof fasteners so it's not exactly a DIY type of repair thing).

Lo and behold, water heaters have more than doubled in price lately.
Why?
Seems the SCAQMD (air quality management district) made a new law that says household water heaters have to meet lower NOX levels now.
It's natural gas for Pete's sake. It's clean!

So, thanks to the enviro-nazis and tree-huggers, a decent $200 40 gallon water heater now costs about $525.

And, I bought a new monitor for my son's computer the other day. Seems that every computer and monitor sold in California now has an additional $8 ENVIRONMENTAL FEE attached for disposal. On top of all the sales tax and other BS.
I did some checking. That money doesn't go for disposal, it goes into the general fund where the irresponsible politicians spend it anyway they see fit. Probably to support some crack whore with 12 kids.

As if I didn't already have enough reasons to hate tree huggers, enviro-nazis, and less "fiscally-responsible" politicians.

Go to AZ and buy one there. Just don't say anything or you can get hit with a "use tax" for it.

Dude... you live in CA... what do you expect? :D

Seriously... did you price electric water heaters... and if so, were they lower than $525? How about tankless?

Regardless, I can't imagine that manufacturing a water heater so that it will meet a lower NOX (what's that?) level could more than double the price. Sounds like a ream job to me.

In the city of It's not going to happen, you need a building permit at $40.00 to install a new water heater. Just another tax for King Richard to lay upon the peons that has to live in this city.

a bit off topic. but have you seen those super efficient water heaters? i THINK they are so efficient, you can use plastic exhaust pipe for them. they even suck the heat out of the exhaust and use it to warm the water. simply amazing.

sammy sorry about the reamjob. i hope you at least got the "reach around" for your troubles.

40 bucks, that cheap. That's required, but who the heck does that?

Haven't looked into tankless but at home despot and lowes the electric heaters were about $200 cheaper than an equivalent gas, which used to be the other way around. Plus the electric is more expensive to run so I stuck with the gas unit.

Might want to check craigslist and local ebay before plunking down the big money. Two years ago I got a brand new GE 50 gal gas heater for $75 because the installers dented it for the original owner. The store (Lowes or Home Depot) replaced it and didn't bother picking up the cosmetically damaged heater. Hence my good fortune.

If you dislike the conventional HW heater price, you will absolutely hate the price for the tankless HW heater.

I bought my 40 gallon hot-water heater for around $200 5 years ago.

At the time, the plumber who did the install was complaining because they used to be half that the year before. That's right, in order to protect us from ourselves, a new federal regulation required that they do away with pilot lights and have electric ignition.

Since everything is computerized it is very easy for King Richard to see who brought a water tank in the city and if they applied for a building permit. Do you think they will pass a law if they couldn't enforce it?

Don't sweat it. You can just buy one with your California state tax return.

I, too, was trying to figure out where you are so as to get a clue what city would do that. No clue in your sig....



Wouldn't that be great? I wish I owed Calif state taxes, I'd shoot them an IOU and see how they like it.

I object very strongly to using the word nazi for this. OK?

Your problem is that there are way too many people crammed into a big bowl that holds in air pollution.

The City with a national Baseball Team that hasn't Won a World Series in 100 years, hence, "It's not gonna happen."

And yet, there's no place I would rather watch a baseball game.

Take a short vacation to Nevada and bring one back.

Chimes in Mr. global warming.

Let's see the numbers that support catalytic converters on a natural gas water heater.
let's see how that is justified.
Let's see how that actually makes sense from a scientific standpoint and not just a ridiculous fantasy world.
Let's see how the extra cost and complexity of manufacturing a water heater with a catalytic converter reduces the amount of pollutants that justify the extra energy and resources needed to make such a thing.

it's knee-jerk reactionary silliness from folks like yourself, except they (the intellectually-challenged Nazis) have the power to cost me unjustified money.

There is only one thing in this world more dangerous and destructive than a hippie with a degree: a money-grabbing politician supported by unrealistic hippies with degrees.

I don't get it....if the water is already hot, why do you need a hot water heater?

My neighborhood is 8 years old now. The water heaters are dropping like flies. Seems there are a couple at the curb every week. Guess I should start saving my pennies...

Every little bit will help cleaning this up:

http://www.whereisjennifer.com/wp-co.../Hazy%20LA.JPG

Of course it is easier to mandate clean water heaters than mandating clean diesel trucks. But like I said, every little bit helps ...

George