When your hot water heater starts to leak, you need to change it quick. We’ll reveal you just how to install your own gas water heater in much less than a day. Even if you do not require a brand-new hot water heater now, chances are you will within the following few years. Hot water heater often tend to last 7 to 15 years. If yours is getting old, this short article is likewise for you. Changing a hot water heater isn’t difficult if you’re handy with standard tools and have a little experience soldering copper.

Tools Called for

4-in-1 screwdriver

Flexible wrench

Electric tape

Pipe wrench

Plumbers tape

Shatterproof glass

Soldering torch

Tape measure

Tube cutter

Voltage tester

Cord stripper/cutter

Products Required

Discharge pipeline

Installations

Pipe thread compound

Stress relief valve

Solder

Airing vent pipe and also ports

Water and gas piping

Starting Setting Up Your New Warm Water Storage Tank

We’re replacing a natural gas hot water heater in our presentation. The steps for replacing a propane water heater are specifically the very same, and also those for an electrical water heater are comparable.

Regardless, when you’re intending a hot water heater replacement, play it secure. Call your regional division of evaluations and also ask if you need an authorization. And also ensure a plumbing or electric examiner checks your work.

Installation Prices and Labor

Plumbings normally charge $45 to $65 a hr and also can typically mount a hot water heater in a day or in 6-8 hours.

The majority of property hot water heater cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing technician mount it. More pricey gas water heaters with unique airing vent systems also are offered. However they’re more difficult to mount, as well as we won’t handle them here.

Water Heater Components as well as Breakdown

Flue pipe

Cold water shutoff valve

Draft diverter

Temperature level as well as pressure safety valve

Overflow pipeline

Warm water electrical outlet

Anticorrosion Anode Pole

Dip tube

Aspects

Insulation

Drain pipes shutoff

Thermostat or control shutoff

Heater

Thermocouple

Gas supply valve

When to get a brand-new hot water heater

Your water heater is dead when the storage tank leakages. The indication that your water heater requires changing is a sluggish drip below, typically turning up as a path of corroded water. This suggests that the steel tank has rusted with as well as can not be repaired. Other symptoms, such as insufficient or no hot water, usually signal various other water heater repair service problems that you can fix.

If you find a drip, strategy to change the water heater as soon as possible. Don’t wait till the leak gets poor.

New hot water heater come with setup guidelines and also lots of warnings to make certain you take care of the gas, electrical and other connections safely. In this article, we’ll supplement those fundamentals with methods and “real life” recommendations from numerous specialist plumbers.

However take heed: You’ll be working with gas, gas or electrical energy, every one of which are hazardous. If you don’t feel confident, call in a professional to care for the hard parts. And have your work examined when it’s done.

Plumbing codes differ by region. Define your planned installation to your regional plumbing examiner, consisting of the kinds of materials you plan to use for your brand-new connections. Much better to obtain support initially so you do not have to transform points later!

Number A: Gas Hot Water Heater Information And Facts

Water

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

To print out this photo, see the Added Details at the end of this short article.

Figure B: Connections for Steel and Plastic Pipe

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

Several residences have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) water system pipelines. Galvanized steel pipes are challenging to replace. We advise that you remove the pipes back to the nearby tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple area and finish the links with copper as shown in our image series.

Because of possible heat buildup, keep plastic pipeline a minimum of 6 in. away from the vent and also storage tank. Make a change from plastic to copper with an unique coupling that’s readily available anywhere CPVC is offered.

Adaptable copper connectors are less complicated to set up than strong copper, specifically when the existing pipes and also the storage tank inlets do not line up. Yet not all neighborhood codes permit them. If yours does, take unique treatment not to pinch or kink them. You might obtain a leak.

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Job step-by-step (12 )

Step 1

Shut off the gas and water

gas

Turn off the gas to the water heater by turning the nearby shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the take care of should go to an ideal angle to the pipeline. Shut off the major supply of water as well as well as drain the lines by opening up a faucet on the most affordable flooring.

Step 2

Drain pipes the water in the tank

pipe

Connect a yard hose pipe to the drain valve and drain pipes the water left in the tank. Care: The water will certainly be scalding hot! Disconnect the gas line at the nearby union with a set of wrenches and also unscrew the pipe from the gas control valve with a monkey wrench.

Action 3

Cut off the water lines

Unscrew

Loosen the vent pipeline from the air vent hood as well as relocate sideways. Then reduce the hot and cold water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipe or the nuts on adaptable connectors if you have them.) Move the old hot water heater off the beaten track.

Tip 4

Connect the relief valve

Wrap

Cover the strings of the new temperature and pressure safety valve with Teflon tape (3 turns). Screw it tightly into the storage tank with a pipe wrench. Affix a copper discharge pipe (see Fig. A for directing details).

Step 5

Affix pipe settings up

Solder

Solder new copper adapters to 6-in. lengths of 3/4-in. copper and screw the settings up into the warm water outlet and cold water inlet ports in the top of the tank. Include short, plastic lined nipples to secure versus galvanic rust, especially if you have tough water or if they’re required by neighborhood codes.

Action 6

Attach the water lines

Slide

Slide the brand-new water heater into area, recut or extend the old tubing to fulfill the brand-new, and also solder the tubes together using copper slip couplings. If the tubing does not line up, offset the lines as required with pairs of 45-degree arm joints.

Action 7

Reattach the vent

Reconnect

Reconnect the vent. Push it firmly over the draft hood as well as slow with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet steel screws. Predrill the holes. The air vent need to rise at the very least 12 in. up and down prior to transforming at the first elbow joint.

Step 8

Use two wrenches to affix the gas line

pipeline

Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipeline joint compound and screw the first nipple area into the gas shutoff. Usage 2 pipe wrenches to prevent stressing the valve. Rebuild the staying nipples, ending up with the union (Picture 2). After that comply with these four steps to load the storage tank: (1) Close the drain shutoff; (2) turn the water back on at the major shutoff and open the chilly water shutoff to the water heater (leave it open); (3) activate a close-by hot water faucet up until water comes out; as well as (4) evaluate all the joints and also fittings for water leaks.

Step 9

Look for backdrafting

Many water heaters rely on an all-natural draft to attract combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft does not function, those fumes, perhaps consisting of deadly carbon monoxide, will splash out into your residence. After completing your setup, check the draft.

Close all external windows and doors and also turn on your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. Then open a neighboring warm water faucet till you listen to the gas burner in the water heater ignite. After a min, relocate a smoking suit around the side of the draft hood (Photo 7) in addition to the heating unit. The smoke should be formulated the air vent pipeline. If the smoke doesn’t draw, the fumes from the heater aren’t venting. Turn off the gas to the water heater as well as call a qualified plumbing to remedy the trouble.

Action 10

Check for leakages

Try to find bubbles at links

bubbles

Activate the gas and inspect connections for leakages by brushing a 50-50 mixture of dishwashing liquid and water over the joints. If the mixture bubbles, you have a leakage. Tighten or reconnect joints that leak. Wipe the joints dry when completed. Call the plumbing examiner to check over your work. Comply with the how-to guidance that accompanies the photos to see to it the connections are tight.

Action 11

Light the pilot burner

Use a lighter to light the pilot light

lighter

Light the pilot burner according to the producer’s directions. (For electrical hot water heater, turn the power on at the primary panel after the electrical examiner checks your job.) Finally, set the temperature level to 120 levels F., complying with the installation instructions. Light the pilot burner in the brand-new water heater and change the temperature setup. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Installment Information for Electric Water Heaters

First switch off the power to the water heater at your major electrical panel. Then adhere to the same draining pipes treatments when it comes to a gas water heater.

When the water heater is drained, disconnect the electric cords from the screw terminals under the accessibility panel, which is normally found near the top. (If you don’t have electric experience, work with an electrical expert to handle all the electrical circuitry.)

Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for wiring the new water heater. If the brand-new water heater is shorter and the old wires will not get to, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. steel electrical box on the wall surface or ceiling close by, run the old cables to the box, and then run a new section of armored cord or electrical avenue to the hot water heater. Check the directions and ensure the rating of the old fuse or breaker is high sufficient to deal with the new water heater. Additionally, the circuit ought to have a shutoff button within sight of the water heater.

Call your neighborhood electric assessor before you start the task. You’ll most likely need a license. After that, when you’re completed, have the electric assessor examine your work.

Aluminum electrical wiring calls for special handling. If you have aluminum wiring, employ a certified pro that’s certified to work with it. This wiring is boring grey, not the plain orange that’s particular of copper.

Step 12

How to Get rid of a Hot Water Heater

Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Family members Handyman, will show you exactly how to eliminate and dispose of a hot water heater in our video clip tutorial. He will additionally reveal you the simple method to lug a water heater out of your residence, also if you are functioning alone.

These suggestions will certainly make your job go quicker and easier:

Measure the elevation of your old hot water heater as well as purchase a brand-new one the same height so you don’t have to transform the length of the water, gas or electrical lines.

The drainpipe shutoff (Picture 2) on old hot water heater commonly blocks. If the water drains slowly, be patient. CARE: It’s scalding warm! POINTER: Turn your hot water heater off two hours ahead of time to enable the water to cool.

Hot water heater consider about 150 pounds. You’ll require a solid helper or a dolly when you relocate the old one out as well as wheel the brand-new one in. Waste solutions commonly charge about $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Before you start, acquire the tools as well as materials shown right here at a pipes supply or equipment store or a residence facility. Inspect the sizes of the water supply pipelines (most will be 3/4 in. like the ones in our pictures) and acquire the right-size installations. With whatever on hand, you’ll require four to 6 hours to finish the work (thinking no big drawbacks!).

The temperature level and also pressure safety valve is a safety device that limits tank pressure and keeps it from taking off (Image 4). A new one have to be included with every installation. For the shutoff to function effectively, the discharge pipe have to be maintained devoid of obstructions (Fig. A).

In regions with very mineralized water, or where called for by regional codes, utilize 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipple areas (concerning $2 each; Picture 5 as well as Fig. A) for signing up with various steels, generally copper tubes to the steel storage tank. This slows down deterioration.

When attaching the water lines, solder the copper installations prior to you screw them to the container so you don’t heat the container itself while soldering (Photo 5).

Use “slip” couplings to connect the old as well as new lines (Photo 6). Unlike regular combinings, they do not have an interior stop. You can slide them on, line up the copper tubes, after that move them back as well as focus them over the joint.

The new inlets and also electrical outlets on the container don’t always line up with the old supply lines. Solder in a pair of 45-degree installations to counter each line if needed. Additionally change the old shutoff valve with a brand-new ball shutoff while you’re at it (Image 6). Air vent diameters are sized according to the warmth output of the water heater. You might need to enhance or reduce the vent dimension to make sure the very best draft. CAUTION: If you’re not sure if your smokeshaft has a lining, ask your plumbing inspector. Ingenious Pipes & & Drain

Make gas connections with solid steel pipe (Photo 8) or soft copper with flare installations (Fig. A). Both are extra reliable and also cheaper than flexible stainless steel connectors, which are not always allowed. Usage rigid copper rather than flexible copper water system lines for the exact same factors.

If you find your hot water heater replacement where leakage can cause damages to the floor or other components of the house, set a pan of an approved dimension under it (metal for gas water heaters). The pan must have a drainpipe tube that leads to a house drainpipe or other accepted place (outdoors where allowed). The temperature level as well as stress safety valve discharge tube additionally must lead to a drainpipe if leak would certainly damage the floorings. If routing is challenging, go over options with your regional plumbing assessor.

If you reside in an earthquake-prone region, band the hot water heater to the wall with unique straps (Fig. A; available at plumbing shops as well as residence centers). Your pipes assessor will inform you if they’re needed.

Establish the brand-new water temperature level setting to no more than 120 levels F. to stay clear of scalding.

Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

( 602) 892-5634

https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com