The final rule from the U.S. Department of Energy, issued recently, requires newly manufactured indoor residential gas furnaces to be at least 95% efficient starting in December 2028, meaning furnaces made after then will have to be condensing models.
A lot of refrigerant reclaimers aren’t charging for mixed refrigerants anymore, which may in turn, mean an opportunity for HVAC contractors to make more money.
Court filings by Associated Builders and Contractors and its Southeast Texas chapter, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, were announced Nov. 7.
Residential gas furnaces must all have a minimum AFUE of 95% beginning in five years. Some in the HVAC industry say the new Department of Energy rule will ultimately hurt homeowners.
The latest rule will require every mobile home gas furnace — and every new residential, non-weatherized gas furnace — to have a minimum annual fuel utilization efficiency (or AFUE) of 95% starting in late 2028.
The Department of Energy recently proposed new higher energy efficiency standards for residential water heaters. Industry is split over whether the new standards will help or hurt consumers.