In April, 2015, the whole landscape of US water heaters changed with the implementation of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA). This federal program effectively did away with gas and electric storage tank water heaters with less than 55 gallons of capacity, and replaced them with brand new technology far superior in energy efficiency.
Here’s something else that changed with the passage of NAECA: electric and gas storage tank systems with less than 55 gallons of capacity are now two inches wider and taller than their predecessors. The extra space is needed for added insulation that helps conserve energy while lowering consumer energy costs.
So if it’s been a good long while since you’re last water heater purchase, you could be in for a few surprises.

