Uniform Energy Factor, better known as UEF, is a metric developed by the Department of Energy, the United States of India. The metric is designed to let the user see the energy efficiency of water heaters. Each water heater model will have a unique UEF rating, indicating the energy efficiency while heating water.
What is the most efficient type of water heater?
- BEST OVERALL: Rheem Performance Platinum 50 Gal. Water Heater
- RUNNER UP: A.O. ...
- BEST BUDGET: Rheem Performance 50 Gal. ...
- BEST TANKLESS ELECTRIC: Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater, Electric
- BEST TANKLESS GAS: Rinnai High Efficiency Natural Gas Tankless Heater
- BEST ENERGY-EFFICIENT: Rheem Performance Platinum Hybrid Electric Heater
- ALSO CONSIDER: A.O. ...
What is a good UEF?
What is a good UEF rating? In general, ENERGY STAR certified conventional gas and electric water heaters have UEF ratings between 0.65 and 0.95 — or 65 to 95 cents on the dollar — while hybrid electric heat pump water heaters have much higher UEF ratings of 2.75 to 3.5.
What is an UEF rating?
Uniform Energy Factor, better known as UEF, is a metric developed by the Department of Energy, the United States of India. The metric is designed to let the user see the energy efficiency of water heaters. Each water heater model will have a unique UEF rating, indicating the energy efficiency while heating water.
What does UEF mean for water heaters?
WHAT IS UEF? The Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is the DOE's newly developed metric for communicating the energy efficiency of water heaters. UEF ratings are determined by assigning water heaters into one of four different categories of hot water usage and then evaluating their performance based on that usage.
What is uniform energy factor mean?
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF): The newest measure of water heater overall efficiency. The higher the UEF value is, the more efficient the water heater. UEF is determined by the Department of Energy's test method outlined in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix E.
What is a good energy factor for a gas water heater?
between 0.5 and 0.7What's a good water heater energy factor? Gas-powered water heaters typically have an energy factor between 0.5 and 0.7. One good way to determine whether or not a water heater is energy-efficient is to look for the Energy Star label.
What is a good energy rating for a hot water heater?
The most efficient conventional gas-fired storage water heaters are ENERGY STAR models with energy factors between 0.67 and 0.70, corresponding to estimated gas use of 214 to 230 therms/year.
How do I find the UEF for my water heater?
Once you enter your water heater's model number, you'll find the manuals and documentation for your heater. The UEF will be listed in the Specifications document.
What is a good uniform energy factor?
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) rating In general, ENERGY STAR certified conventional gas and electric water heaters have UEF ratings between 0.65 and 0.95 — or 65 to 95 cents on the dollar — while hybrid electric heat pump water heaters have much higher UEF ratings of 2.75 to 3.5.
What should I look for when buying a water heater?
7 Things to Consider When Choosing a New Water HeaterQuality of the Tank and Heating Element. ... What type of fuel does my hot water heater require? ... Should I rent or buy a water heater? ... Where will it be located? ... Should I choose a tank or tankless water heater? ... What capacity does my household need? ... Is it energy-efficient?
Is a higher or lower energy factor better?
The higher the energy factor, the more efficient the appliance should be. Although the term energy factor is used to compare the relative efficiency of these appliances, the metric is defined differently for all four appliance categories.
Should I replace my 15 year old water heater?
Water Heater Lifespan If your tank water heater is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it. With proper maintenance, a tank water heater tank should last six to 12 years. A tankless water heater can last for more than 20 years. Check your water heater's warranty for the most accurate timelines.
Should I replace my 20 year old water heater?
A professional can sometimes repair these issues, but if your water heater is older, you'll need replacement. For example, a 20-year-old water heater is nearing the end of its service life and will need to be replaced even if repairs are possible.
How do I know if my water heater is energy efficient?
If you have a high-efficiency water heater, there will also be a bright yellow Energy Guide label. Older EF (High Efficiency) labels provide the annual estimated cost and energy usage to run the water heater.
Can you convert UEF to EF?
For consumer water heaters and residential-duty commercial water heaters, Energy Factor (EF) can be converted into Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) and vice versa.
What is the difference between EF and UEF?
The Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is the DOE's newly developed metric for communicating the energy efficiency of water heaters. Previously, you may have seen efficiency measured by Energy Factor (EF). UEF replaces this metric.
Do water heaters have ENERGY STAR ratings?
Water heaters use about 20% of a home's energy. An important element of an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade is a heat pump water heater that earns the ENERGY STAR label, which is up to 4 times more efficient and uses 70 percent less energy than a standard model.
Is energy factor the same as efficiency?
The energy factor (EF) indicates a water heater's overall energy efficiency based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day. This includes the following: Recovery efficiency – how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water.
What is the difference between EF and UEF?
The Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is the DOE's newly developed metric for communicating the energy efficiency of water heaters. Previously, you may have seen efficiency measured by Energy Factor (EF). UEF replaces this metric.
Can you convert UEF to EF?
For consumer water heaters and residential-duty commercial water heaters, Energy Factor (EF) can be converted into Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) and vice versa.
Are All Water Heaters Going Through This Change?
All residential water heaters sold in the U.S. must comply with this new approach. Commercial water heaters are subject to different rules and regu...
How Will This Affect The Water Heater’S Performance?
Our water heaters will remain as efficient and reliable as ever. Our water heater’s delivery capacity has not changed. The DOE’s new test procedure...
Will Water Heater Sizes Or Dimensions Change?
No. Our water heaters will still be available in the same sizes. The only thing that is changing is the way manufacturers communicate water heater...
What Is Uniform Energy Factor?
Uniform Energy Factor, better known as UEF, is a metric developed by the Department of Energy, the United States of India.
What is the EF rating for a water heater?
In EF rating, the manufacturer could have hidden the actual capacity of the water heater tank using the gallon grouping technique. For instance, if a water heater had an actual capacity of 37 gallons, a manufacturer could have rounded off the figure to 40 gallons. With UEF, the DOE has made it tough to do. Even though a manufacturer can advertise using the rounded-off figure, it has to disclose the actual storage capacity on the specifications page. More importantly, because the rating is based on a more accurate figure, your estimates would also be closer to real life.
How Is UEF Rating Calculated?
As you have seen, UEF rating is an essential thing in water heaters, regardless of the type of energy they use. Tankless, tank-type, and hybrid water heaters would also have this rating as long as they are made for residential use.
What happens if a water heater has a high UEF rating?
If the water heater model has a high UEF rating, the estimated energy cost savings will also be increased. There could be some impact on the heating performance of the water heater model as well.
What is the GPM of a tankless water heater?
Low: This bin contains tank-type water heaters with a first-hour rating between 18 to 51 gallons and tankless water heaters with a max GPM between 1.7 to 2.8
When did the UEF rating change?
The change occurred in June 2017. So, if you have purchased a residential water heater after the date, it should have a UEF rating instead of an EF rating. It needs to be noted that commercial water heaters do not come under the purview of UEF ratings.
Why are EF ratings unreliable?
We must note that EF test methods did not pay much attention to the draw patterns of different models. It was one of the reasons why the EF ratings were quite unreliable at times.
What is the energy factor of a water heater?
What’s a good water heater energy factor? Gas-powered water heaters typically have an energy factor between 0.5 and 0.7. One good way to determine whether or not a water heater is energy-efficient is to look for the Energy Star label.
What is the most important factor when choosing a water heater?
Along with fuel-source, one of the most important deciding factors on what kind of water heater you choose to install in your home is the unit’s energy factor .
How to calculate energy factor?
To calculate a water heater’s energy factor, you take the amount of energy the water heater puts to use and divide it by the total amount of energy that goes into powering the unit.
Is electric water heater more expensive than gas?
It’s important to note that energy factors can vary significantly depending on their fuel-source. Electric-powered water heaters, for example, can have EF’s much higher than gas-powered water heaters, but electric energy costs three times as much as natural gas.
Can a water heater use all the energy?
In a perfect world, all of the energy that a water heater consumes would be put to use. However, that’s not the case, particularly with gas-powered units. Energy can be lost during the combustion process, while water is stored for standby use and as combustion gasses are exhausted, to name a few scenarios.
How long does it take for a water heater to recover?
The water heater is then allowed to recover and the process continues repeatedly until one hour elapses. The sum of the amount of hot water drawn during the test is the First Hour Rating.
How to determine first hour rating?
The First Hour Rating (FHR) in gallons, is determined by running a Department of Energy specified test with the outlet temperature of 125°F (+/- 5°F). A draw of three gallons per minute starts and then discontinues once the hot water outlet temperature drops 15°F. The water heater is then allowed to recover and the process continues repeatedly until one hour elapses. The sum of the amount of hot water drawn during the test is the First Hour Rating.
Is the energy factor chart subject to change?
The Uniform Energy Factor Chart is subject to change without notice in accordance with our policy of continuous improvement.
What Energy Efficiency Rating Factors Have Changed?
The new UEF standard affects more than just the efficiency number itself. Adjustments in new DOE testing procedures now impact water heating performance stats associated with the amount of hot water produced in a real-world situation to the length of typical showers.
What is FHR rating?
First Hour Rating / First Hour Delivery (FHR/FHD) FHR, sometimes referred to as First-Hour Delivery (FHD), is the amount of hot water a water heater can provide in the first hour of operation. Updated testing procedures result in a more accurate representation of performance.
When did the EF rating change?
Beginning, June 12, 2017, EF ratings will be replaced with the new industry standard for measuring energy efficiency in water heaters called, Uniform Energy Factor (UEF). The new UEF rating method improves the industry’s ability to:
Do water heater ratings change?
You may notice new numbers associated with the water heaters you’re considering. The water heaters themselves haven’t changed, but the way we calculate the ratings and other facts and figures associated with them is different.
WHAT IS ENERGY FACTOR FOR A WATER HEATER?
Energy Factor or EF is the measure of the energy efficiency of your water heater. It is calculated by dividing the amount of energy the water heater uses by the total energy that goes into running the water heater.
DOES A HIGHER WATER HEATER ENERGY FACTOR MEAN IT IS BETTER?
The energy factors will vary depending on the fuel source, design of the burner, tank insulation and other features. Electric water heaters with an energy efficiency between 0.67 or higher are qualified for the Energy Star label, while gas heaters with EF higher than 0.8 can get an Energy Star label. Gas water heaters typically have energy factors between 0.5 and 0.7, and for electric models, it is between 0.75 and 0.95.
