Industry groups warn proposed zero-emission standard could restrict availability of gas pool heaters in California A proposed rule from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that could limit the future sale of naturalgas- fired heaters is drawing formal opposition from the pool and spa industry. The California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) submitted oppositional comments to the board on January 13, 2026.
The CARB proposal — introduced during a December 11, 2025, CARB workshop — would establish a Zero-Emission Space and Water Heater Standard. While primarily aimed at residential and commercial space and domestic water heating, CARB has indicated that pool heaters may be included.
As currently structured, the rule would move the market toward zeroemission equipment by limiting the sale of new gas-fired units over time, potentially through manufacturer sales caps. CARB’s proposal would phase out gas heaters by limiting how many can be sold in California over time. For the pool industry, that raises the possibility that gas heaters — even for backup use — could become increasingly limited or unavailable in the California market.
To understand the impact, it helps to distinguish CARB’s role from other regulations already affecting pool heating.
California’s Title 24 energy code, which took effect January 1, 2026, governs new construction, requiring that new pool heating systems use a heat pump, solar, or another qualifying renewable source as the primary heat source, while still allowing gas heaters in a supplemental role.
At the regional level, air districts such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) regulate equipment replacement through emissions rules. AQMD’s Rule 1146.2, for example, applies when heaters are replaced and sets near-zero nitrogen oxide (NOx) limits that effectively restrict the continued use of gas-fired equipment over time.
CARB’s proposal operates differently from both. Rather than regulating new construction or replacement, it targets future equipment sales statewide — potentially limiting what products are available in the market at all.
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In their January 13 comments, CPSA and PHTA urged CARB to exclude pool heaters from the rulemaking, arguing they represent a fundamentally different category of equipment than space and domestic water heaters.
CPSA emphasized that pool heaters operate under different duty cycles, require higher performance, and serve distinct roles — particularly in commercial and public settings.
A central concern is the lack of pool-specific emissions data. According to CPSA, CARB has not demonstrated that pool heaters contribute meaningfully to statewide greenhouse gas or NOx emissions. The association submitted a screening analysis suggesting pool heaters represent only a negligible share of NOx output, calling into question the basis for regulation.
Technical feasibility is another issue. While electric heat pumps are often cited as a zero-emission alternative, CPSA contends they cannot reliably meet the demands of many commercial, municipal, school, and therapeutic pools, which require high capacity, rapid temperature recovery, and consistent elevated temperatures.
In many cases, electrification would require multiple units, significant electrical upgrades, and additional space — costs and constraints that may be impractical for existing facilities.
The proposal’s compliance structure also presents challenges. CARB has suggested a sales-based cap on manufacturers, but CPSA notes that manufacturers operate through national distribution networks and do not control where units are ultimately sold, complicating enforcement.
Industry groups also point to publicsafety implications. Heated pools support swim instruction, drowning prevention, rehabilitation, and youth sports. Reduced access to heating could lead to scaled-back programs or facility closures, particularly in underserved communities.
As CARB continues to refine the proposal, CPSA and PHTA say they will remain engaged. Their position is that any regulation affecting pool heating must be based on pool-specific data, realistic technology assessments, and an understanding of the role heated pools play in community safety and access.
On February 28, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) put forth a landmark proposal to require all space and water heater equipment sold in the state of California to meet zero-emissions by a set date. Image credit: https://www.phccweb.org/news. Click link to visit.
