When your hot water heater starts to leakage, you have to replace it fast. We’ll show you how to mount your very own gas water heater in much less than a day. Even if you do not require a new hot water heater today, chances are you will within the next few years. Hot water heater often tend to last seven to 15 years. If yours is obtaining old, this write-up is additionally for you. Changing a water heater isn’t challenging if you’re handy with standard devices and have a little experience soldering copper.

Devices Called for

4-in-1 screwdriver

Flexible wrench

Electric tape

Monkey wrench

Plumbers tape

Safety glasses

Soldering torch

Tape measure

Tube cutter

Voltage tester

Cable stripper/cutter

Materials Required

Discharge pipe

Installations

Pipeline thread substance

Stress relief valve

Solder

Airing vent pipeline and connectors

Water as well as gas piping

Getting Going Setting Up Your New Warm Water Tank

We’re changing a gas hot water heater in our demo. The steps for changing a lp water heater are exactly the same, and those for an electrical water heater are similar.

Regardless, when you’re planning a water heater replacement, play it risk-free. Call your local department of assessments and ask if you need a license. And make sure a plumbing or electric assessor checks your work.

Installation Prices and also Labor

Plumbing professionals generally bill $45 to $65 a hr and can normally install a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hours.

A lot of property water heaters cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electrical, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing professional mount it. Extra expensive gas water heaters with special airing vent systems additionally are readily available. But they’re more difficult to install, and we won’t manage them here.

Water Heater Parts and Breakdown

Flue

Cold water shutoff valve

Draft diverter

Temperature level as well as pressure relief valve

Overflow pipe

Hot water electrical outlet

Anticorrosion Anode Pole

Dip tube

Aspects

Insulation

Drain shutoff

Thermostat or control valve

Heater

Thermocouple

Gas supply valve

When to get a brand-new hot water heater

Your hot water heater is dead when the container leaks. The dead giveaway that your hot water heater requires replacing is a slow drip underneath, usually showing up as a route of corroded water. This implies that the steel container has rusted with and can’t be repaired. Various other signs and symptoms, such as not enough or no hot water, normally signal various other water heater repair work troubles that you can fix.

If you find a drip, plan to replace the water heater today. Do not wait up until the leak obtains bad.

New water heaters come with setup directions and also lots of warnings to see to it you take care of the gas, electrical and various other links safely. In this post, we’ll supplement those fundamentals with methods as well as “real world” suggestions from numerous specialist plumbing technicians.

But take heed: You’ll be collaborating with natural gas, propane or electricity, all of which are harmful. If you do not feel great, contact a professional to deal with the challenging components. As well as have your work examined when it’s done.

Pipes codes vary by area. Describe your intended setup to your local plumbing examiner, including the types of products you intend to use for your new connections. Better to obtain guidance first so you do not need to alter points later on!

Figure A: Gas Hot Water Heater Information And Facts

Water

FAMILY HANDYMAN

To print out this image, see the Additional Details at the end of this article.

Number B: Links for Steel and Plastic Pipe

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

Several houses have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) supply of water pipes. Galvanized steel pipelines are tough to change. We recommend that you remove the pipelines back to the nearby tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple area as well as finish the connections with copper as displayed in our image series.

Due to potential heat build-up, keep plastic pipeline at the very least 6 in. away from the vent as well as tank. Make a change from plastic to copper with a special coupling that’s readily available anywhere CPVC is offered.

Adaptable copper adapters are simpler to mount than solid copper, particularly when the existing pipelines and the storage tank inlets don’t align. But not all local codes allow them. If your own does, take unique treatment not to pinch or kink them. You might obtain a leak.

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Job detailed (12 )

Action 1

Shut off the gas and also water

gas

Switch off the gas to the hot water heater by transforming the nearby shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the deal with need to be at a right angle to the pipe. Turn off the main water supply as well and also drain pipes the lines by opening up a tap on the most affordable floor.

Action 2

Drain pipes the water in the storage tank

hose

Connect a garden tube to the drainpipe shutoff as well as drain pipes the water left in the storage tank. Care: The water will certainly be scalding warm! Separate the gas line at the close-by union with a set of wrenches and unscrew the pipe from the gas control valve with a monkey wrench.

Step 3

Cut off the water lines

Unscrew

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

Tip 4

Attach the safety valve

Cover

Wrap the strings of the brand-new temperature level and pressure safety valve with Teflon tape (three turns). Screw it tightly right into the container with a pipe wrench. Connect a copper discharge pipe (see Fig. A for directing information).

Step 5

Connect 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 warm water electrical outlet and chilly water inlet ports in the top of the storage tank. Include short, plastic lined nipples to shield versus galvanic corrosion, specifically if you have tough water or if they’re required by local codes.

Step 6

Attach the water lines

Slide

Move the new water heater right into location, recut or expand the old tubes to satisfy the brand-new, as well as solder the tubes together using copper slip combinings. If the tubes doesn’t align, counter the lines as required with sets of 45-degree arm joints.

Step 7

Reattach the vent

Reconnect

Reconnect the vent. Shove it securely over the draft hood as well as anchor it with 3 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet steel screws. Predrill the openings. The air vent ought to climb a minimum of 12 in. up and down before transforming at the very first elbow.

Step 8

Use two wrenches to connect the gas line

pipe

Reconnect the gas line. Coat the threaded ends with pipeline joint compound and screw the initial nipple right into the gas valve. Use 2 monkey wrench to prevent stressing the shutoff. Reassemble the staying nipples, finishing up with the union (Image 2). After that adhere to these 4 actions to load the storage tank: (1) Close the drainpipe valve; (2) turn the water back on at the main shutoff and also open the cool water shutoff to the hot water heater (leave it open); (3) turn on a neighboring hot water tap until water comes out; as well as (4) evaluate all the joints as well as fittings for water leaks.

Tip 9

Check for backdrafting

Most hot water heater rely on an all-natural draft to attract burning fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t function, those fumes, perhaps containing lethal carbon monoxide, will splash out right into your house. After finishing your setup, check the draft.

Close all external doors and windows and also activate your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. Then open up a close-by warm water tap until you listen to the burner in the hot water heater stir up. After a min, relocate a cigarette smoking suit around the edge of the draft hood (Picture 7) on top of the heater. The smoke should be drawn up the air vent pipe. If the smoke does not draw, the fumes from the heater aren’t venting. Switch off the gas to the water heater as well as call an accredited plumbing professional to remedy the problem.

Action 10

Look for leakages

Try to find bubbles at connections

bubbles

Turn on the gas as well as check links for leaks by cleaning a 50-50 mix of dishwashing fluid as well as water over the joints. If the mixture bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten or reconnect joints that leak. Clean the joints dry when finished. Call the pipes examiner to check over your work. Adhere to the how-to guidance that accompanies the photos to make sure the connections are tight.

Action 11

Light the pilot light

Utilize a lighter to light the pilot burner

lighter

Light the pilot light according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (For electrical water heaters, transform the power on at the major panel after the electrical inspector checks your job.) Lastly, set the temperature to 120 levels F., following the setup guidelines. Light the pilot burner in the brand-new water heater and also adjust the temperature level setting. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Setup Information for Electric Water Heaters

First turn off the power to the water heater at your major electrical panel. After that adhere to the very same draining treatments as for a gas hot water heater.

When the water heater is drained, separate the electrical cables from the screw terminals under the accessibility panel, which is normally found near the top. (If you do not have electrical experience, employ an electrical expert to take care of all the electric wiring.)

Adhere to the maker’s directions for wiring the new hot water heater. If the brand-new water heater is shorter and the old wires will not reach, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. steel electrical box on the wall or ceiling close by, run the old cords to package, and afterwards run a new area of armored wire or electrical conduit to the hot water heater. Inspect the directions and make certain the rating of the old fuse or breaker is high enough to take care of the brand-new hot water heater. In addition, the circuit needs to have a shutoff button within sight of the hot water heater.

Call your regional electric inspector before you begin the task. You’ll probably need an authorization. After that, when you’re ended up, have the electrical assessor examine your work.

Aluminum electrical wiring needs special delivery. If you have light weight aluminum electrical wiring, call in a certified pro who’s licensed to deal with it. This circuitry is dull grey, not the plain orange that’s characteristic of copper.

Step 12

How to Get rid of a Hot Water Heater

Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Household Handyman, will show you exactly how to eliminate and also dispose of a water heater in our video tutorial. He will additionally show you the easy way to bring a water heater out of your residence, also if you are functioning alone.

These pointers will make your job go quicker as well as easier:

Determine the height of your old water heater as well as acquire a new one the exact same height so you don’t have to alter the length of the water, gas or electric lines.

The drainpipe shutoff (Photo 2) on old hot water heater often congests. If the water drains gradually, hold your horses. CAUTION: It’s scalding warm! IDEA: Turn your water heater off two hours beforehand to allow the water to cool.

Hot water heater weigh concerning 150 lbs. You’ll need a strong assistant or a dolly when you relocate the old one out and wheel the new one in. Waste solutions typically bill concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Prior to you start, get the tools and products revealed here at a plumbing supply or hardware shop or a residence facility. Inspect the sizes of the water system pipes (most will certainly be 3/4 in. like the ones in our images) and buy the right-size fittings. With everything accessible, you’ll require four to 6 hrs to finish the task (assuming no big drawbacks!).

The temperature level and pressure safety valve is a security tool that limits container pressure and keeps it from taking off (Image 4). A brand-new one have to be included with every installment. For the shutoff to work properly, the discharge pipeline should be kept free of obstructions (Fig. A).

In areas with extremely mineralized water, or where required by local codes, use 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipple areas (regarding $2 each; Photo 5 and Fig. A) for signing up with various metals, usually copper tubes to the steel storage tank. This slows rust.

When linking 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 (Picture 5).

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

The new inlets and also outlets on the container do not always line up with the old supply lines. Solder in a set of 45-degree fittings to counter each line if needed. Likewise change the old shutoff valve with a new sphere shutoff while you go to it (Picture 6). Air vent sizes are sized according to the heat result of the hot water heater. You might have to boost or lower the vent size to guarantee the very best draft. CAUTION: If you’re not sure if your chimney has a lining, ask your plumbing inspector. Innovative Plumbing & & Drainpipe

Make gas links with solid steel pipe (Picture 8) or soft copper with flare fittings (Fig. A). Both are more reliable and also less costly than flexible stainless steel adapters, which are not constantly permitted. Usage inflexible copper instead of adaptable copper water lines for the exact same reasons.

If you find your water heater substitute where leak could cause damages to the flooring or other components of your house, established a pan of an authorized size under it (steel for gas hot water heater). The pan must have a drain tube that leads to a residence drain or various other approved area (outdoors where allowed). The temperature and stress relief valve discharge tube additionally should lead to a drain if leakage would harm the floorings. If directing is challenging, go over choices with your local pipes assessor.

If you live in an earthquake-prone region, strap the water heater to the wall with special bands (Fig. A; offered at pipes stores and residence centers). Your pipes assessor will certainly inform you if they’re required.

Establish the new water temperature level readying to no more than 120 levels F. to avoid scalding.

Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

( 602) 892-5634

https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com