When your hot water heater starts to leak, you need to change it quick. We’ll show you exactly how to install your very own gas water heater in less than a day. Even if you don’t require a brand-new water heater right now, possibilities are you will within the next couple of years. Hot water heater tend to last 7 to 15 years. If yours is getting old, this article is also for you. Replacing a hot water heater isn’t hard if you’re handy with basic tools and also have a little experience soldering copper.
Devices Required
4-in-1 screwdriver
Flexible wrench
Electric tape
Pipe wrench
Plumbers tape
Safety glasses
Soldering lantern
Tape measure
Tube cutter
Voltage tester
Cord stripper/cutter
Products Required
Release pipeline
Installations
Pipe thread compound
Pressure safety valve
Solder
Airing vent pipe and also ports
Water as well as gas piping
Getting Going Putting Up Your New Warm Water Tank
We’re replacing a natural gas water heater in our demonstration. The actions for replacing a propane hot water heater are exactly the exact same, and also those for an electric hot water heater are similar.
All the same, when you’re intending a hot water heater replacement, play it safe. Call your neighborhood department of assessments and ask if you require a permit. As well as make certain a plumbing or electric examiner checks your job.
Installment Costs and Labor
Plumbers usually bill $45 to $65 an hour and can typically install a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hours.
A lot of domestic hot water heater cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing mount it. More expensive gas hot water heater with unique airing vent systems additionally are offered. However they’re harder to install, and we won’t handle them below.
Water Heater Components as well as Break Down
Flue pipe
Cold water shutoff valve
Draft diverter
Temperature and also pressure relief valve
Overflow pipeline
Hot water electrical outlet
Anticorrosion Anode Pole
Dip tube
Aspects
Insulation
Drain valve
Thermostat or control shutoff
Burner
Thermocouple
Gas supply valve
When to get a new hot water heater
Your water heater is dead when the container leaks. The telltale sign that your hot water heater requires replacing is a sluggish drip below, generally turning up as a route of corroded water. This implies that the steel container has actually rusted with and also can’t be taken care of. Various other symptoms, such as not enough or no hot water, typically signal other water heater repair troubles that you can deal with.
If you detect a drip, strategy to change the hot water heater right away. Do not wait up until the leak obtains negative.
New hot water heater include installment instructions and also great deals of cautions to ensure you handle the gas, electric and also various other connections securely. In this short article, we’ll supplement those essentials with methods as well as “real life” suggestions from a number of specialist plumbings.
However beware: You’ll be dealing with natural gas, lp or power, all of which are unsafe. If you do not feel confident, employ a professional to look after the challenging parts. And have your work inspected when it’s done.
Plumbing codes vary by area. Explain your prepared installation to your local pipes assessor, including the types of products you mean to utilize for your new connections. Much better to obtain support first so you don’t have to alter things later on!
Figure A: Gas Water Heater Particulars
Water
FAMILY MEMBERS HANDYMAN
To publish out this photo, see the Additional Details at the end of this article.
Figure B: Connections for Steel as well as Plastic Pipe
HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN
Many residences have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) water system pipes. Galvanized steel pipelines are tough to replace. We recommend that you remove the pipelines back to the nearby tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple as well as finish the connections with copper as received our image series.
Due to potential warmth buildup, keep plastic pipeline at least 6 in. far from the air vent and also storage tank. Make a change from plastic to copper with an unique combining that’s readily available wherever CPVC is offered.
Adaptable copper adapters are much easier to set up than solid copper, especially when the existing pipelines as well as the storage tank inlets don’t align. However not all neighborhood codes permit them. If your own does, take special care not to squeeze or kink them. You could obtain a leakage.
Read Next
How To Boost Garden Dirt in WinterPlay icon
Just How To Improve Garden Soil in Winter
Exactly how to Readjust Your Hot water heater’s TemperaturePlay symbol
Just how to Adjust Your Hot water heater’s Temperature
Just how to Examine Your Hot water heater ElementPlay icon
Just how to Check Your Water Heater Element
Register for Our E-newsletter
Full do it yourself tasks like a professional! Sign up for our e-newsletter!
Email Address
REGISTER
Job step-by-step (12 )
Step 1
Shut off the gas as well as water
gas
Switch off the gas to the water heater by turning the close-by shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the deal with should go to a best angle to the pipeline. Shut down the primary supply of water also and drain pipes the lines by opening up a faucet on the most affordable flooring.
Action 2
Drain pipes the water in the container
pipe
Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and drain the water left in the tank. Care: The water will be scalding warm! 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 pipe wrench.
Action 3
Cut off the water lines
Unscrew
Loosen the air vent pipe from the vent hood as well as move it to the side. After that cut the cold and hot 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 relief valve
Cover
Wrap the threads of the brand-new temperature and stress safety valve with Teflon tape (three turns). Screw it securely right into the storage tank with a pipe wrench. Affix a copper discharge pipeline (see Fig. A for routing information).
Step 5
Affix 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 and cool water inlet ports in the top of the storage tank. Include short, plastic lined nipple areas to secure versus galvanic rust, especially if you have tough water or if they’re needed by neighborhood codes.
Action 6
Attach the water lines
Slide
Move the brand-new water heater into location, recut or prolong the old tubes to fulfill the new, as well as solder the tubing together using copper slip combinings. If the tubing doesn’t line up, balance out the lines as needed with sets of 45-degree arm joints.
Action 7
Reattach the vent
Reconnect
Reconnect the vent. Push it securely over the draft hood and also slow with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet steel screws. Predrill the openings. The air vent should rise a minimum of 12 in. up and down before transforming at the very first elbow joint.
Step 8
Use two wrenches to affix the gas line
pipeline
Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipe joint substance as well as screw the first nipple area into the gas valve. Use 2 monkey wrench to avoid worrying the shutoff. Rebuild the remaining nipple areas, finishing up with the union (Picture 2). Then comply with these 4 actions to fill up the tank: (1) Close the drainpipe shutoff; (2) turn the water back on at the major shutoff and also open the chilly water valve to the water heater (leave it open); (3) turn on a nearby warm water tap till water comes out; and also (4) examine all the joints and also installations for water leaks.
Step 9
Look for backdrafting
A lot of water heaters rely on an all-natural draft to draw combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t function, those fumes, possibly consisting of harmful carbon monoxide, will splash out right into your residence. After finishing your installment, inspect the draft.
Close all outside doors and windows and activate your kitchen and bathroom exhaust followers. Then open up a neighboring hot water tap until you hear the burner in the water heater spark. After a minute, relocate a smoking cigarettes match around the edge of the draft hood (Photo 7) on top of the heating unit. The smoke needs to be created the air vent pipe. If the smoke doesn’t attract, the fumes from the heater aren’t venting. Switch off the gas to the hot water heater and also call an accredited plumbing to remedy the trouble.
Step 10
Check for leaks
Look for bubbles at connections
bubbles
Activate the gas as well as check links for leakages by brushing a 50-50 mixture of dishwashing fluid as well as water over the joints. If the mixture bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten or reconnect joints that leakage. Wipe the joints dry when completed. Call the pipes assessor to check out your job. Follow the how-to recommendations that goes along with the images to ensure the links are limited.
Action 11
Light the pilot light
Utilize a lighter to light the pilot light
lighter
Light the pilot light according to the producer’s instructions. (For electrical hot water heater, transform the power on at the primary panel after the electrical examiner checks your job.) Ultimately, set the temperature to 120 levels F., complying with the installment guidelines. Light the pilot light in the new hot water heater as well as adjust the temperature level setting. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Setup Details for Electric Water Heaters
First shut off the power to the water heater at your major electrical panel. After that comply with the exact same draining pipes procedures when it comes to a gas hot water heater.
When the water heater is drained, detach the electrical cables from the screw terminals under the access panel, which is typically found near the top. (If you don’t have electric experience, hire an electrician to deal with all the electric wiring.)
Comply with the maker’s instructions for wiring the new hot water heater. If the brand-new water heater is much shorter and the old cords won’t reach, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. metal electrical box on the wall surface or ceiling close by, run the old cords to package, and afterwards run a brand-new section of armored cable or electrical channel to the hot water heater. Check the directions and ensure the rating of the old fuse or circuit breaker is high enough to handle the brand-new hot water heater. Additionally, the circuit needs to have a shutoff switch within sight of the hot water heater.
Call your neighborhood electrical examiner prior to you start the task. You’ll possibly require a permit. Then, when you’re ended up, have the electric assessor examine your work.
Light weight aluminum wiring needs special delivery. If you have light weight aluminum wiring, contact a licensed pro that’s accredited to work with it. This wiring is plain grey, not the plain orange that’s characteristic of copper.
Action 12
Exactly how to Deal with a Water Heater
Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Household Handyman, will reveal you just how to get rid of and get rid of a water heater in our video clip tutorial. He will additionally show you the easy method to lug a hot water heater out of your house, even if you are working alone.
These suggestions will make your job go quicker and easier:
Determine the elevation of your old water heater and also acquire a new one the exact same elevation so you don’t need to change the length of the water, gas or electric lines.
The drain shutoff (Image 2) on old water heaters frequently blocks. If the water drains slowly, 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 evaluate 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 normally charge concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Before you begin, get the tools and products shown below at a plumbing supply or hardware store or a house center. Inspect the dimensions of the water pipelines (most will certainly be 3/4 in. like the ones in our photos) and purchase the right-size fittings. With whatever available, you’ll require 4 to 6 hours to complete the job (assuming no huge drawbacks!).
The temperature level and also stress relief valve is a security device that limits container stress and also maintains it from exploding (Picture 4). A brand-new one must be included with every setup. For the shutoff to function appropriately, the discharge pipeline have to be kept without obstructions (Fig. A).
In areas with extremely mineralized water, or where required by regional codes, utilize 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipples (regarding $2 each; Image 5 and also Fig. A) for signing up with different metals, normally copper tubing to the steel container. This slows deterioration.
When attaching the water lines, solder the copper fittings before you screw them to the storage tank so you don’t heat up the storage tank itself while soldering (Photo 5).
Usage “slip” couplings to link the old as well as brand-new lines (Photo 6). Unlike routine combinings, they don’t have an inner quit. You can move them on, straighten the copper tubes, after that glide them back and focus them over the joint.
The new inlets and also electrical outlets on the tank do not constantly line up with the old supply lines. Solder in a set of 45-degree installations to counter each line if necessary. Likewise replace the old shutoff valve with a brand-new sphere valve while you’re at it (Photo 6). Air vent sizes are sized according to the warm outcome of the hot water heater. You might need to increase or decrease the air vent dimension to guarantee the very best draft. CARE: If you’re unsure if your chimney has a lining, ask your plumbing inspector. Cutting-edge Pipes & & Drainpipe
Make gas links with solid steel pipeline (Image 8) or soft copper with flare fittings (Fig. A). Both are extra trustworthy as well as less costly than versatile stainless steel adapters, which are not constantly permitted. Use stiff copper rather than adaptable copper supply of water lines for the same factors.
If you situate your water heater substitute where leak can trigger damages to the floor or various other components of your home, established a frying pan of an accepted size under it (metal for gas hot water heater). The pan needs to have a drainpipe tube that causes a residence drainpipe or various other accepted location (outdoors where permitted). The temperature and pressure safety valve discharge tube likewise have to result in a drainpipe if leak would harm the floors. If routing is tough, discuss alternatives with your local pipes assessor.
If you stay in an earthquake-prone region, band the hot water heater to the wall surface with unique straps (Fig. A; readily available at pipes shops and also home centers). Your plumbing inspector will tell you if they’re required.
Establish the brand-new water temperature level setting to no more than 120 degrees F. to stay clear of scalding.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
( 602) 892-5634
https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com
 |
