Radiant Heat 'Danger Zone'?

Are Eichler radiant heat systems headed into the 'danger zone' with the recently passed regional ban on gas-fueled boilers, furnaces, and water heaters?

It's looking that way.

In a move towards a zero emissions future, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board recently voted to ban sales of gas-fueled systems, backing the report that gas water heaters and boilers can no longer be sold or installed in the Bay Area beginning in 2027, and are to be phased out by 2029.

Citing levels of pollution rivaling that of automotive tailpipe emissions, the changeover from gas to electric reportedly is intended to stave off a wide range of health, safety, and environmental impacts.

But how will these new changes impact Eichler owners, particularly those who have radiant heat systems and hydronic boilers in place?

To get their thoughts, we consulted with two veteran Bay Area radiant heat and plumbing specialists, Mike LaChance of LaChance's Radiant Heating (on the Peninsula and South Bay); and Paul Gerrard of Big Blue Hydronics (in the East Bay). Both are Eichler Network members.

"This is going to impact everybody, not just Eichler owners," says LaChance. "As radiant guys, we can do [install] gas or electric, but the only way we can get it done electrically is by bringing in a heat pump. Manufacturers make electric boilers, but all they [the government] will approve are the heat pumps right now. I'm sure there'll be an in-between stage, but not all cities are on board yet."

Considering the proposed changes, Gerrard says, "I don't know that I know the full ins and outs, but if you take it at face value, that we're going to not be able to even replace existing systems with gas-fired appliances, then there's one or two things to think about."

"There are things that make it not great for Eichler homes," Gerard adds. "One is that it's expensive [for the electric equivalent] compared with replacing with a standard [gas-fueled] boiler."