The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) issued rule1146.2 on June 7 that will eventually ban the use of natural gas fired commercial and residential water heaters, including swimming pool heaters in the four-county area that they cover. This includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and part of San Bernardino counties.
Under the new rule, residential gas pool heaters will not be able to be installed in new construction beginning January 1, 2028.
Existing gas pool heaters could stay in operation and be replaced until January 1, 2031. Beyond that, existing gas heaters could still be used and repaired for the remainder of their usable life, but replacement ones could not be installed.
The rule did include a provision that if an electrical upgrade is required to install a new heat pump as a replacement for a gas pool heater (and electrical upgrade most likely will be required), then the Board's rule extends the time to comply an additional 5 years.
The extended timeframe is intended to encourage and incentivize manufacturers to develop technology to respond to this rule. It should also incentivize builders and home owners choose more energy efficient designs such as covered pools and stand alone electric spas that are better suited for this type of electric heat.
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