When your hot water heater starts to leakage, you need to change it fast. We’ll show you how to install your own gas water heater in much less than a day. Even if you do not need a brand-new hot water heater today, opportunities are you will within the next couple of years. Hot water heater tend to last 7 to 15 years. If your own is getting old, this short article is additionally for you. Changing a hot water heater isn’t challenging if you’re handy with standard devices as well as have a bit of experience soldering copper.

Tools Required

4-in-1 screwdriver

Adjustable wrench

Electric tape

Monkey wrench

Plumbers tape

Shatterproof glass

Soldering lantern

Measuring tape

Tube cutter

Voltage tester

Cord stripper/cutter

Materials Required

Discharge pipeline

Fittings

Pipe thread substance

Stress safety valve

Solder

Venting pipeline and also connectors

Water and gas piping

Beginning Setting Up Your New Hot Water Container

We’re changing a gas water heater in our presentation. The steps for changing a lp water heater are specifically the same, as well as those for an electrical water heater are comparable.

Regardless, when you’re planning a hot water heater substitute, play it risk-free. Call your regional division of examinations and ask if you need a permit. As well as see to it a pipes or electric examiner checks your work.

Setup Expenses as well as Labor

Plumbing technicians usually bill $45 to $65 an hour and also can normally install a hot water heater in a day or in 6-8 hours.

Most property water heaters set you back $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing technician mount it. Extra costly gas hot water heater with unique venting systems likewise are available. However they’re more difficult to install, and also we won’t take care of them here.

Water Heater Components and also Breakdown

Flue pipe

Cold water shutoff valve

Draft diverter

Temperature and pressure relief valve

Overflow pipeline

Warm water outlet

Anticorrosion Anode Rod

Dip tube

Elements

Insulation

Drain pipes shutoff

Thermostat or control shutoff

Burner

Thermocouple

Gas supply valve

When to get a brand-new hot water heater

Your water heater is dead when the storage tank leaks. The dead giveaway that your hot water heater requires changing is a slow-moving drip beneath, typically showing up as a path of corroded water. This suggests that the steel storage tank has rusted with and can not be fixed. Various other signs, such as not enough or no hot water, normally signal other water heater repair work troubles that you can repair.

If you spot a drip, plan to replace the water heater today. Do not wait till the leak obtains poor.

New water heaters come with installation instructions as well as lots of warnings to ensure you handle the gas, electrical and various other links safely. In this post, we’ll supplement those basics with methods and “real life” guidance from numerous expert plumbers.

Yet beware: You’ll be working with natural gas, gas or electricity, every one of which are harmful. If you don’t feel confident, contact a professional to deal with the hard components. And also have your work inspected when it’s done.

Plumbing codes differ by region. Describe your planned installation to your regional plumbing inspector, including the kinds of products you intend to use for your new connections. Much better to get assistance initially so you do not need to change points later!

Number A: Gas Water Heater Facts

Water

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

To publish out this picture, see the Additional Information at the end of this short article.

Number B: Connections for Steel and also Plastic Pipeline

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

Lots of homes have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) water pipes. Galvanized steel pipelines are difficult to replace. We advise that you remove the pipes back to the local tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple area as well as complete the links with copper as displayed in our image series.

Due to potential heat accumulation, keep plastic pipe at least 6 in. far from the vent and also container. Make a change from plastic to copper with an unique combining that’s readily available wherever CPVC is sold.

Flexible copper adapters are less complicated to install than strong copper, specifically when the existing pipelines as well as the tank inlets do not line up. But not all neighborhood codes allow them. If your own does, take unique care not to pinch or kink them. You might obtain a leak.

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Project detailed (12 )

Action 1

Shut off the gas and also water

gas

Turn off the gas to the hot water heater by turning the nearby shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the take care of ought to be at a best angle to the pipe. Turn off the main water system too as well as drain the lines by opening up a faucet on the lowest flooring.

Action 2

Drain the water in the container

pipe

Attach a yard pipe to the drain shutoff and also drain pipes the water left in the container. Caution: The water will certainly be scalding warm! Detach the gas line at the close-by union with a pair of wrenches and also loosen the pipeline from the gas control valve with a pipe wrench.

Action 3

Cut off the water lines

Unscrew

Unscrew the air vent pipe from the air vent hood and move it sideways. After that reduce the hot and cold water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipeline or the nuts on versatile ports if you have them.) Glide the old water heater out of the way.

Step 4

Attach the safety valve

Cover

Wrap the strings of the new temperature level as well as pressure safety valve with Teflon tape (3 turns). Screw it firmly into the tank with a monkey wrench. Affix a copper discharge pipe (see Fig. A for directing information).

Step 5

Attach pipeline assemblies

Solder

Solder brand-new copper adapters to 6-in. lengths of 3/4-in. copper as well as screw the assemblies right into the hot water electrical outlet as well as cold water inlet ports in the top of the storage tank. Add short, plastic lined nipples to secure versus galvanic corrosion, especially if you have hard water or if they’re needed by regional codes.

Action 6

Affix the water lines

Slide

Slide the new hot water heater into location, recut or extend the old tubes to meet the brand-new, and also solder the tubing with each other using copper slip combinings. If the tubes doesn’t line up, balance out the lines as required with pairs of 45-degree elbows.

Step 7

Reattach the vent

Reconnect

Reconnect the air vent. Shove it securely over the draft hood and anchor it with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet steel screws. Predrill the holes. The vent ought to climb at least 12 in. vertically before transforming at the very first elbow joint.

Step 8

Use 2 wrenches to affix the gas line

pipeline

Reconnect the gas line. Coat the threaded ends with pipeline joint substance as well as screw the first nipple right into the gas valve. Use 2 monkey wrench to avoid emphasizing the shutoff. Rebuild the remaining nipple areas, finishing up with the union (Image 2). Then comply with these four actions to fill up the tank: (1) Shut the drain valve; (2) turn the water back on at the major shutoff and open up the cold water shutoff to the hot water heater (leave it open); (3) activate a neighboring warm water faucet until water comes out; and (4) inspect all the joints and also installations for water leaks.

Tip 9

Look for backdrafting

The majority of water heaters count on a natural draft to attract combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t function, those fumes, perhaps containing lethal carbon monoxide gas, will spill out into your house. After finishing your installment, examine the draft.

Close all external windows and doors and also turn on your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. Then open up a close-by warm water faucet up until you hear the burner in the hot water heater ignite. After a min, move a smoking cigarettes match around the side of the draft hood (Photo 7) on top of the heating unit. The smoke ought to be formulated the air vent pipeline. If the smoke doesn’t attract, the fumes from the burner aren’t venting. Turn off the gas to the water heater and also call a qualified plumbing to correct the issue.

Step 10

Look for leaks

Try to find bubbles at links

bubbles

Switch on the gas and also check connections for leakages by cleaning a 50-50 mix of dishwashing liquid and also water over the joints. If the combination bubbles, you have a leakage. Tighten up or reconnect joints that leak. Wipe the joints completely dry when completed. Call the pipes assessor to check out your work. Comply with the how-to suggestions that comes with the images to see to it the connections are limited.

Action 11

Light the pilot burner

Use a lighter to light the pilot light

lighter

Light the pilot burner according to the manufacturer’s directions. (For electrical hot water heater, turn the power on at the major panel after the electrical examiner checks your job.) Lastly, set the temperature level to 120 levels F., complying with the installation guidelines. Light the pilot burner in the brand-new hot water heater as well as change the temperature level setting. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Installation Information for Electric Water Heaters

First turn off the power to the hot water heater at your primary electrical panel. Then follow the same draining treatments when it comes to a gas hot water heater.

When the water heater is drained pipes, separate the electric cables from the screw terminals under the accessibility panel, which is usually found near the top. (If you do not have electric experience, work with an electrical expert to handle all the electric wiring.)

Adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for circuitry the brand-new hot water heater. If the new hot water heater is much shorter as well as the old cords will not get to, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. metal electric box on the wall surface or ceiling nearby, run the old wires to package, and afterwards run a new section of armored cable television or electrical conduit to the water heater. Inspect the instructions and also see to it the rating of the old fuse or circuit breaker is high enough to take care of the brand-new hot water heater. Additionally, the circuit needs to have a shutoff button within view of the water heater.

Call your regional electrical inspector prior to you begin the job. You’ll most likely need a permit. After that, when you’re finished, have the electric assessor inspect your job.

Aluminum wiring requires special delivery. If you have light weight aluminum electrical wiring, call a certified pro who’s accredited to work with it. This electrical wiring is dull gray, not the dull orange that’s particular of copper.

Step 12

How to Get rid of a Water Heater

Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Family Handyman, will show you just how to remove and take care of a water heater in our video tutorial. He will certainly additionally reveal you the simple method to bring a water heater out of your residence, even if you are functioning alone.

These pointers will certainly make your job go faster and easier:

Determine the height of your old water heater and also get a new one the exact same height so you don’t have to alter the size of the water, gas or electrical lines.

The drainpipe shutoff (Image 2) on old hot water heater usually blocks. If the water drains pipes slowly, hold your horses. CARE: It’s scalding hot! IDEA: Turn your water heater off two hrs in advance to permit the water to cool down.

Hot water heater weigh regarding 150 pounds. You’ll require a solid assistant or a dolly when you relocate the old one out as well as wheel the new one in. Trash services normally charge concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Before you start, purchase the devices as well as materials shown below at a pipes supply or hardware store or a house center. Inspect the dimensions of the supply of water pipes (most will be 3/4 in. like the ones in our pictures) as well as buy the right-size fittings. With every little thing on hand, you’ll need four to 6 hours to finish the task (thinking no large drawbacks!).

The temperature and also stress safety valve is a safety and security gadget that restricts storage tank stress and also maintains it from exploding (Photo 4). A new one should be consisted of with every installment. For the shutoff to work properly, the discharge pipe have to be kept free of blockages (Fig. A).

In areas with highly mineralized water, or where called for by local codes, use 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipples (about $2 each; Image 5 and Fig. A) for signing up with various metals, typically copper tubes to the steel tank. This slows corrosion.

When attaching the water lines, solder the copper fittings prior to you screw them to the tank so you do not heat the tank itself while soldering (Photo 5).

Usage “slip” combinings to link the old as well as brand-new lines (Image 6). Unlike routine couplings, they do not have an inner stop. You can slide them on, line up the copper tubes, after that slide them back and center them over the joint.

The brand-new inlets and electrical outlets on the tank don’t constantly associate the old supply lines. Solder in a set of 45-degree installations to counter each line if required. Also change the old shutoff valve with a new ball shutoff while you go to it (Picture 6). Vent diameters are sized according to the warm output of the hot water heater. You could need to boost or reduce the air vent size to ensure the best draft. CAUTION: If you’re unsure if your smokeshaft has a liner, ask your pipes inspector. Ingenious Pipes & & Drainpipe

Make gas connections with strong steel pipeline (Photo 8) or soft copper with flare installations (Fig. A). Both are much more trustworthy as well as less expensive than versatile stainless steel ports, which are not constantly permitted. Usage rigid copper rather than versatile copper supply of water lines for the same reasons.

If you find your hot water heater substitute where leakage might trigger damage to the flooring or other parts of your home, established a pan of an approved size under it (metal for gas hot water heater). The frying pan needs to have a drain tube that causes a home drain or other approved location (outdoors where allowed). The temperature as well as stress safety valve discharge tube likewise should bring about a drainpipe if leak would certainly harm the floorings. If directing is tough, discuss alternatives with your neighborhood pipes inspector.

If you reside in an earthquake-prone region, strap the hot water heater to the wall with special bands (Fig. A; offered at plumbing stores and also residence centers). Your plumbing inspector will certainly inform you if they’re called for.

Establish the brand-new water temperature setting to no more than 120 levels F. to avoid hot.

Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

( 602) 892-5634

https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com