Pool Heaters

Department of Energy

Manufacturers have been required to comply with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) energy conservation standards for residential pool heaters since 1990. Residential pool heaters are used to heat water for use in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and similar applications.

Standards mandatory in 2013 will save approximately 0.02 quads of energy and result in approximately $43 million in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2013-2043. The standard will avoid about 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 255,000 automobiles.

    Energy Conservation Standards for Direct Heating Equipment and Pool Heaters

    Summary: DOE is initiating a rulemaking to consider amending energy conservation standards for direct heating equipment and pool heaters. Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE’s statutory obligation to either propose amended energy conservation standards for these products or to determine that the existing standards do not need to be amended. To this end, DOE must determine whether national standards more stringent than those currently in place would result in a significant amount of additional energy savings and whether such amended national standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified.

    Type of Regulation: Energy Conservation Standard

    Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage

    Docket ID: EERE-2015-BT-STD-0003

    UPDATES:

    Comment Period Close Date: Closed

    Where to Comment: EERE-2015-BT-STD-0003

    AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:

    • 2015-04-27 — AHRI Comments - Direct Heating and Pool Heaters ECS RFI

    N/A

    Current Standard

    Gas-fired pool heaters manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), on or after January 1, 1990, and before April 16, 2013, must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32(k)(1). They must have a thermal efficiency no less than 78%.

    For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Amended Standard

    Gas-fired pool heaters manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291 (16), on or after April 16, 2013, must have a thermal efficiency no less than 82%. The full text of the amended standard is available in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32(k)(2).

    To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 430.23(p) for residential pool heaters. The methods to conduct the test procedure are further specified in 10 CFR Part 430 Subpart B,
    Appendix P
    .

    • Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 80 FR 792 (January 6, 2015)
    • Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-TP-0004 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

    AHRI comments to rulemaking:

    For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

     

    EPA ENERGY STAR

    Not currently an Energy Star certified product.

    Current Product Specifications:

    N/A

    In Development:

    N/A

    Applying for Energy Star:

    To qualify a new product, contact an EPA-recognized Certification Body (CB) to have the product's performance certified. A list of EPA-recognized CBs, as well as an overview of EPA's third-party certification procedures, is available at Third-Party Certification. AHRI is an EPA-recognized CB. Email [email protected] for more information.

    More Information:

    N/A

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