When your hot water heater starts to leak, you need to change it fast. We’ll reveal you just how to mount your very own gas water heater in less than a day. Also if you do not need a brand-new hot water heater today, chances are you will within the next couple of years. Water heaters tend to last 7 to 15 years. If yours is getting old, this write-up is also for you. Changing a water heater isn’t tough if you’re handy with standard tools and have a little bit of experience soldering copper.

Devices Needed

4-in-1 screwdriver

Adjustable wrench

Electric tape

Monkey wrench

Plumbers tape

Shatterproof glass

Soldering torch

Measuring tape

Tube cutter

Voltage tester

Cable stripper/cutter

Products Required

Discharge pipeline

Fittings

Pipe string substance

Pressure safety valve

Solder

Venting pipeline and also adapters

Water and gas piping

Getting Started Installing Your New Warm Water Container

We’re replacing a natural gas water heater in our demo. The steps for replacing a propane hot water heater are precisely the exact same, and also those for an electric water heater are comparable.

All the same, when you’re intending a water heater substitute, play it secure. Call your neighborhood division of inspections and ask if you need an authorization. And also make certain a plumbing or electrical inspector checks your job.

Setup Expenses and also Labor

Plumbing professionals commonly charge $45 to $65 an hour as well as can generally install a hot water heater in a day or in 6-8 hrs.

Many property hot water heater cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing mount it. Extra expensive gas hot water heater with special venting systems likewise are offered. Yet they’re more difficult to install, and we will not handle them below.

Water Heater Parts and Failure

Flue pipe

Cold water shutoff valve

Draft diverter

Temperature level and also stress safety valve

Overflow pipe

Warm water outlet

Anticorrosion Anode Rod

Dip tube

Elements

Insulation

Drain shutoff

Thermostat or control valve

Burner

Thermocouple

Gas supply valve

When to get a brand-new water heater

Your water heater is dead when the container leakages. The indication that your hot water heater needs replacing is a slow-moving drip underneath, typically appearing as a route of corroded water. This means that the steel storage tank has rusted with and also can not be repaired. Other symptoms, such as not enough or no hot water, normally signal various other hot water heater repair work issues that you can repair.

If you spot a drip, plan to replace the water heater as soon as possible. Do not wait till the leak obtains bad.

Brand-new hot water heater feature installment guidelines and also lots of cautions to ensure you deal with the gas, electrical as well as other connections securely. In this write-up, we’ll supplement those basics with techniques and “real life” guidance from numerous expert plumbings.

But beware: You’ll be collaborating with natural gas, gas or electrical energy, all of which are dangerous. If you don’t feel great, call in a professional to deal with the tough components. And also have your job examined when it’s done.

Plumbing codes differ by region. Describe your prepared setup to your neighborhood pipes examiner, consisting of the kinds of products you plan to utilize for your brand-new connections. Better to get guidance first so you don’t have to transform things later!

Number 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 write-up.

Number B: Connections for Steel and Plastic Pipeline

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Many homes have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) water pipelines. Galvanized steel pipelines are challenging to change. We advise that you get rid of the pipelines back to the closest tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple area as well as complete the links with copper as shown in our photo series.

As a result of potential warm build-up, maintain plastic pipeline a minimum of 6 in. far from the air vent as well as container. Make a transition from plastic to copper with an unique combining that’s offered wherever CPVC is offered.

Flexible copper adapters are less complicated to mount than strong copper, specifically when the existing pipes and the storage tank inlets don’t line up. However not all regional codes allow them. If your own does, take special treatment not to squeeze or kink them. You might get a leak.

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Task step-by-step (12 )

Step 1

Shut off the gas and also water

gas

Switch off the gas to the water heater by turning the close-by shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the handle must be at an appropriate angle to the pipeline. Shut down the main water system too and drain the lines by opening up a tap on the most affordable flooring.

Step 2

Drain the water in the tank

hose

Attach a garden hose pipe to the drain shutoff as well as drain the water left in the container. Caution: The water will be scalding warm! Detach the gas line at the neighboring union with a set of wrenches and also unscrew the pipe from the gas control shutoff with a monkey wrench.

Step 3

Cut off the water lines

Unscrew

Loosen the vent pipe from the air vent hood as well as move it sideways. Then cut 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.) Slide the old water heater out of the way.

Tip 4

Affix the safety valve

Wrap

Cover the threads of the brand-new temperature and pressure safety valve with Teflon tape (3 turns). Screw it tightly into the container with a pipe wrench. Connect a copper discharge pipeline (see Fig. A for routing information).

Tip 5

Connect pipe assemblies

Solder

Solder brand-new copper adapters to 6-in. sizes of 3/4-in. copper and screw the settings up into the hot water outlet and also cold water inlet ports in the top of the tank. Include short, plastic lined nipple areas to protect versus galvanic rust, specifically if you have difficult water or if they’re called for by neighborhood codes.

Action 6

Attach the water lines

Slide

Slide the new hot water heater into location, recut or extend the old tubes to satisfy the brand-new, and also solder the tubes with each other making use of copper slip combinings. If the tubing does not line up, balance out the lines as required with pairs of 45-degree joints.

Action 7

Reattach the air vent

Reconnect

Reconnect the vent. Shove it securely over the draft hood and also slow with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet metal screws. Predrill the holes. The vent need to increase a minimum of 12 in. vertically before transforming at the initial joint.

Tip 8

Use 2 wrenches to connect the gas line

pipeline

Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipe joint substance and screw the first nipple into the gas shutoff. Use 2 pipe wrenches to stay clear of emphasizing the shutoff. Reconstruct the continuing to be nipples, finishing up with the union (Image 2). Then follow these 4 actions to load the storage tank: (1) Close the drain valve; (2) turn the water back on at the primary shutoff and also open the chilly water shutoff to the water heater (leave it open); (3) switch on a close-by warm water faucet until water appears; and also (4) evaluate all the joints as well as installations for water leaks.

Tip 9

Look for backdrafting

The majority of water heaters rely upon an all-natural draft to attract combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t function, those fumes, potentially having dangerous carbon monoxide, will spill out right into your residence. After finishing your installment, check the draft.

Close all exterior windows and doors and switch on your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. After that open a close-by hot water faucet up until you listen to the burner in the water heater spark. After a minute, relocate a smoking suit around the side of the draft hood (Picture 7) in addition to the heater. The smoke should be drawn up the vent pipeline. If the smoke doesn’t draw, the fumes from the heater aren’t airing vent. Shut off the gas to the hot water heater as well as call an accredited plumbing to remedy the issue.

Action 10

Look for leaks

Look for bubbles at links

bubbles

Switch on the gas and check connections for leaks by cleaning a 50-50 mixture of dishwashing liquid and water over the joints. If the blend bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten up or reconnect joints that leakage. Wipe the joints dry when finished. Call the plumbing assessor to check over your job. Comply with the how-to advice that accompanies the images to make sure the connections are limited.

Step 11

Light the pilot burner

Make use of a lighter to light the pilot burner

lighter

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

Installment Information for Electric Water Heaters

First turn off the power to the water heater at your primary electric panel. Then follow the exact same draining pipes treatments as for a gas hot water heater.

When the hot water heater is drained, detach the electric cables from the screw terminals under the access panel, which is generally located near the top. (If you don’t have electrical experience, employ an electrician to deal with all the electrical wiring.)

Comply with the maker’s directions for circuitry the brand-new water heater. If the new hot water heater is much shorter and also the old cables will not reach, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. steel electrical box on the wall surface or ceiling nearby, run the old cords to package, and then run a brand-new area of armored cable or electrical conduit to the hot water heater. Inspect the guidelines and see to it the rating of the old fuse or breaker is high enough to manage the brand-new hot water heater. On top of that, the circuit should have a shutoff button within view of the hot water heater.

Call your local electrical assessor before you begin the job. You’ll probably require a permit. After that, when you’re finished, have the electrical inspector inspect your job.

Aluminum electrical wiring requires special handling. If you have light weight aluminum wiring, hire a licensed pro that’s accredited to deal with it. This wiring is boring grey, not the dull orange that’s characteristic of copper.

Action 12

Exactly how to Deal with a Water Heater

Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Family members Handyman, will show you how to eliminate and dispose of a hot water heater in our video tutorial. He will also show you the very easy way to bring a hot water heater out of your residence, even if you are working alone.

These suggestions will make your job go faster and easier:

Measure the elevation of your old water heater and also get a brand-new one the exact same height so you do not have to alter the size of the water, gas or electrical lines.

The drain shutoff (Image 2) on old hot water heater usually clogs up. If the water drains pipes gradually, be patient. CAUTION: It’s scalding hot! POINTER: Turn your hot water heater off two hrs ahead of time to enable the water to cool.

Water heaters consider about 150 pounds. You’ll need a solid assistant or a dolly when you move the old one out and wheel the brand-new one in. Waste solutions generally charge concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Before you start, buy the tools and materials revealed right here at a pipes supply or hardware shop 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) and also get the right-size installations. With whatever accessible, you’ll need four to six hrs to finish the task (assuming no big hitches!).

The temperature level and stress relief valve is a safety device that restricts container pressure as well as maintains it from blowing up (Picture 4). A new one should be included with every installation. For the shutoff to work properly, the discharge pipeline have to be kept devoid of blockages (Fig. A).

In areas with extremely mineralized water, or where called for by neighborhood codes, use 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipples (concerning $2 each; Picture 5 and Fig. A) for signing up with various metals, generally copper tubes to the steel storage tank. This reduces corrosion.

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

Usage “slip” combinings to connect the old and brand-new lines (Picture 6). Unlike normal couplings, they do not have an interior stop. You can move them on, align the copper tubing, after that slide them back and also center them over the joint.

The brand-new inlets and outlets on the container do not always associate the old supply lines. Solder in a set of 45-degree fittings to counter each line if required. Also change the old shutoff valve with a new ball valve while you go to it (Image 6). Air vent sizes are sized according to the warm outcome of the water heater. You may have to increase or reduce the vent size to ensure the best draft. CAUTION: If you’re uncertain if your smokeshaft has a liner, ask your plumbing assessor. Innovative Pipes & & Drain

Make gas links with strong steel pipe (Image 8) or soft copper with flare fittings (Fig. A). Both are extra trustworthy and less costly than versatile stainless-steel ports, which are not constantly permitted. Usage inflexible copper instead of adaptable copper water system lines for the same reasons.

If you situate your hot water heater replacement where leak might cause damage to the floor or other components of the house, established a frying pan of an authorized size under it (steel for gas hot water heater). The frying pan needs to have a drain tube that leads to a home drainpipe or various other authorized area (outdoors where permitted). The temperature level and stress safety valve discharge tube likewise need to lead to a drainpipe if leak would damage the floors. If transmitting is hard, go over options with your regional plumbing inspector.

If you reside in an earthquake-prone area, strap the water heater to the wall surface with unique straps (Fig. A; offered at plumbing stores and residence facilities). Your plumbing examiner will certainly inform you if they’re called for.

Set the new water temperature level readying to no more than 120 degrees F. to stay clear of scalding.

Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

( 602) 892-5634

https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com