NAHB Commends House Vote to Block Bans on Certain Gas Water Heaters
An NAHB-supported congressional resolution that overturns the Biden administration’s recent attempt to ban certain natural gas water heaters was approved by the House on Thursday.
H.J. Res. 20, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval regarding the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Final Rule establishing Standards for Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters, rescinds the Biden administration’s rule that sought to ban non-condensing, natural-gas-fired water heaters by 2029.
NAHB applauds the passage of H.J. Res 20 because the DOE’s push for a shift to more expensive condensing gas water heaters under the previous administration would raise housing costs and present substantial hurdles for remodeling and replacement projects, especially in older homes. Furthermore, NAHB believes the rule’s impact on the water heater market could set a dangerous precedent for further restrictions on natural gas appliances, ultimately making it harder for home owners to maintain affordable living standards.
A companion resolution introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is pending in the Senate, and NAHB will work with senators to advance this resolution in the Senate.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Oct 27, 2026
Affordability Challenges Push New Home Sales Lower
Sales of newly built single-family homes decreased 0.6% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000, following a downwardly revised August estimate, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales was 5.3% lower than a year earlier.
Economics | Workforce Development
Oct 26, 2026
How Old Are America's Construction Workers?
NAHB analysis takes a deeper look into the median ages of construction workers by state and by trade.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Oct 26, 2026
Uptick for Non-Conventional Financing in 2025
Nationwide, the share of non-conventional financing for new home sales accounted for 32.4% of the market, according to NAHB analysis of the 2025 Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC) data.
Economics
Oct 23, 2026
A Quarter of Remodelers Started ADUs Over Past Twelve Months
When asked if remodelers started a project involving an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) over the past twelve months, 24% indicated that they were building an addition for use as an ADU and 23% indicated that they were converting an existing space to an ADU, according to NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI).
Economics
Oct 23, 2026
Slabs Overtake Basements in the East North Central Division
Nearly three-quarters of new single-family homes started in 2025 were built on slab foundations, according to NAHB analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).