When your water heater starts to leakage, you need to change it quickly. We’ll reveal you just how to install your own gas hot water heater in much less than a day. Also if you do not need a brand-new water heater right now, chances are you will within the following few years. Water heaters often tend to last seven to 15 years. If yours is obtaining old, this short article is also for you. Replacing a water heater isn’t difficult if you’re handy with basic tools and also have a bit of experience soldering copper.

Devices Required

4-in-1 screwdriver

Adjustable wrench

Electrical tape

Pipe wrench

Plumbers tape

Safety glasses

Soldering torch

Measuring tape

Tube cutter

Voltage tester

Wire stripper/cutter

Materials Required

Discharge pipe

Installations

Pipeline thread substance

Pressure relief valve

Solder

Airing vent pipe as well as adapters

Water and also gas piping

Getting Going Installing Your New Hot Water Storage Tank

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

All the same, when you’re preparing a hot water heater substitute, play it safe. Call your neighborhood division of examinations as well as ask if you need a permit. And ensure a plumbing or electrical inspector checks your work.

Installment Expenses and also Labor

Plumbing technicians normally bill $45 to $65 an hour as well as can generally mount a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hours.

Many residential hot water heater cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electrical, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumber mount it. Much more costly gas hot water heater with unique airing vent systems additionally are readily available. However they’re more difficult to install, and we will not deal with them here.

Hot Water Heater Parts and Breakdown

Flue pipe

Cold water shutoff valve

Draft diverter

Temperature level as well as pressure safety valve

Overflow pipe

Warm water electrical outlet

Anticorrosion Anode Rod

Dip tube

Aspects

Insulation

Drain pipes valve

Thermostat or control shutoff

Heater

Thermocouple

Gas supply shutoff

When to get a new hot water heater

Your hot water heater is dead when the tank leakages. The indicator that your hot water heater requires replacing is a slow-moving drip beneath, normally appearing as a route of corroded water. This indicates that the steel tank has rusted through as well as can’t be dealt with. Other symptoms, such as inadequate or no hot water, usually signal various other hot water heater repair work troubles that you can deal with.

If you find a drip, plan to replace the water heater today. Do not wait till the leak gets bad.

Brand-new hot water heater come with installment guidelines as well as great deals of warnings to make sure you handle the gas, electrical and various other links safely. In this post, we’ll supplement those essentials with techniques and also “real life” recommendations from numerous professional plumbing professionals.

However take heed: You’ll be dealing with gas, lp or electricity, all of which are hazardous. If you do not feel great, call a professional to deal with the challenging components. And also have your job evaluated when it’s done.

Pipes codes vary by region. Describe your intended installation to your regional plumbing inspector, consisting of the types of materials you plan to use for your brand-new connections. Much better to get support initially so you do not need to transform things later on!

Number A: Gas Water Heater Information

Water

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

To print out this image, see the Extra Info at the end of this article.

Number B: Connections for Steel and also Plastic Pipe

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Lots of residences have actually galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) supply of water pipelines. Galvanized steel pipelines are hard to change. We recommend that you remove the pipes back to the nearest tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple as well as complete the connections with copper as received our image series.

As a result of potential heat buildup, keep plastic pipe a minimum of 6 in. far from the vent as well as storage tank. Make a change from plastic to copper with a special coupling that’s readily available anywhere CPVC is sold.

Flexible copper adapters are easier to mount than strong copper, specifically when the existing pipelines and the storage tank inlets don’t line up. But not all local codes enable them. If your own does, take special care not to pinch or kink them. You could obtain a leakage.

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Job step-by-step (12 )

Step 1

Turn off the gas and also water

gas

Turn off the gas to the water heater by turning the close-by shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the handle ought to be at an appropriate angle to the pipeline. Shut off the main water also and drain the lines by opening a tap on the lowest floor.

Step 2

Drain the water in the tank

tube

Attach a garden tube to the drainpipe shutoff and also drain pipes the water left in the storage tank. Care: The water will be scalding hot! Disconnect the gas line at the close-by union with a pair of wrenches as well as loosen the pipeline from the gas control shutoff with a pipe wrench.

Action 3

Cut off the water lines

Unscrew

Unscrew the vent pipeline from the vent hood and relocate to the side. Then reduce the cold and hot water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipeline or the nuts on adaptable connectors if you have them.) Slide the old water heater off the beaten track.

Tip 4

Attach the relief valve

Wrap

Cover the threads of the new temperature and also stress relief valve with Teflon tape (3 turns). Screw it tightly into the storage tank with a monkey wrench. Affix a copper discharge pipeline (see Fig. A for routing details).

Tip 5

Attach pipe assemblies

Solder

Solder brand-new copper adapters to 6-in. sizes of 3/4-in. copper and screw the assemblies right into the warm water outlet and chilly water inlet ports in the top of the tank. Add short, plastic lined nipple areas to shield against galvanic rust, especially if you have tough water or if they’re required by local codes.

Step 6

Attach the water lines

Slide

Slide the new hot water heater into place, recut or prolong the old tubing to meet the brand-new, and solder the tubes together utilizing copper slip combinings. If the tubes does not align, balance out the lines as required with sets of 45-degree elbows.

Step 7

Reattach the vent

Reconnect

Reconnect the vent. Shove it securely over the draft hood as well as slow with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet metal screws. Predrill the holes. The vent ought to rise a minimum of 12 in. vertically prior to transforming at the first joint.

Tip 8

Usage two wrenches to affix the gas line

pipeline

Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipeline joint compound and screw the very first nipple area into the gas shutoff. Use 2 pipe wrenches to avoid emphasizing the valve. Reconstruct the remaining nipple areas, finishing up with the union (Image 2). Then adhere to these four steps to fill the storage tank: (1) Shut the drain valve; (2) transform the water back on at the main shutoff and open up the cool water shutoff to the hot water heater (leave it open); (3) switch on a neighboring hot water tap till water appears; and (4) evaluate all the joints and installations for water leakages.

Tip 9

Check for backdrafting

Most water heaters rely upon a natural draft to draw combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t work, those fumes, potentially having dangerous carbon monoxide, will certainly splash out right into your house. After finishing your installation, inspect the draft.

Close all external doors and windows and activate your kitchen and bathroom exhaust followers. Then open up a close-by hot water tap until you listen to the burner in the hot water heater ignite. After a min, move a cigarette smoking suit around the edge of the draft hood (Picture 7) on top of the heating unit. The smoke should be prepared the vent pipe. If the smoke does not attract, the fumes from the heater aren’t airing vent. Switch off the gas to the water heater as well as call a qualified plumbing professional to deal with the trouble.

Step 10

Look for leaks

Look for bubbles at connections

bubbles

Activate the gas and inspect connections for leaks by cleaning a 50-50 combination of dishwashing liquid and water over the joints. If the mix bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten or reconnect joints that leakage. Wipe the joints dry when ended up. Call the plumbing inspector to check over your job. Follow the how-to advice that goes along with the pictures to see to it the connections are limited.

Action 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 instructions. (For electrical hot water heater, transform the power on at the major panel after the electric inspector checks your job.) Ultimately, established the temperature to 120 levels F., adhering to the installation instructions. Light the pilot burner in the new hot water heater and also adjust the temperature level setup. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Installment Details for Electric Water Heaters

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

When the hot water heater is drained, disconnect the electrical wires 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 contractor to take care of all the electric wiring.)

Comply with the producer’s directions for wiring the brand-new hot water heater. If the brand-new water heater is shorter and the old cords will not reach, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. steel electric box on the wall or ceiling nearby, run the old wires to package, and then run a new area of armored cord or electric channel to the hot water heater. Inspect the guidelines as well as make sure the rating of the old fuse or breaker is high sufficient to handle the brand-new water heater. On top of that, the circuit ought to have a shutoff switch within sight of the hot water heater.

Call your neighborhood electrical inspector prior to you begin the job. You’ll most likely need an authorization. Then, when you’re ended up, have the electric assessor examine your work.

Light weight aluminum wiring needs special handling. If you have aluminum electrical wiring, call a licensed pro that’s certified to collaborate with it. This electrical wiring is plain gray, not the boring orange that’s characteristic of copper.

Action 12

Just how to Deal with a Hot Water Heater

Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Family members Handyman, will certainly show you how to get rid of and deal with a hot water heater in our video tutorial. He will also show you the very easy method to lug a water heater out of your residence, also if you are working alone.

These tips will make your work go faster and also easier:

Gauge the elevation of your old water heater and purchase a brand-new one the very same height so you don’t have to change the length of the water, gas or electric lines.

The drain valve (Photo 2) on old hot water heater often clogs up. If the water drains pipes gradually, hold your horses. CAUTION: It’s scalding warm! TIP: Transform your hot water heater off two hours ahead of time to allow the water to cool down.

Water heaters consider about 150 pounds. You’ll require a solid helper or a dolly when you move the old one out as well as wheel the new one in. Rubbish solutions commonly bill regarding $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Before you start, acquire the devices and materials shown below at a pipes supply or hardware shop or a home facility. Inspect the dimensions of the water pipes (most will certainly be 3/4 in. like the ones in our images) as well as acquire the right-size installations. With every little thing handy, you’ll require four to six hours to finish the task (presuming no big hitches!).

The temperature and stress relief valve is a safety and security gadget that limits container stress and keeps it from exploding (Photo 4). A new one have to be consisted of with every installment. For the valve to work properly, the discharge pipeline need to be maintained free of blockages (Fig. A).

In regions with very mineralized water, or where needed by local codes, utilize 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipples (concerning $2 each; Photo 5 and Fig. A) for joining different steels, usually copper tubing to the steel tank. This slows down rust.

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

Usage “slip” couplings to connect the old as well as new lines (Picture 6). Unlike normal couplings, they do not have an internal quit. You can slide them on, line up the copper tubes, after that move them back as well as center them over the joint.

The new inlets as well as electrical outlets on the tank don’t constantly line up with the old supply lines. Solder in a pair of 45-degree fittings to offset each line if necessary. Additionally change the old shutoff valve with a new sphere valve while you’re at it (Picture 6). Vent diameters are sized according to the warm outcome of the water heater. You may need to boost or decrease the vent size to make certain the most effective draft. CARE: If you’re unsure if your chimney has a liner, ask your pipes inspector. Innovative Plumbing & & Drain

Make gas connections with solid steel pipeline (Photo 8) or soft copper with flare installations (Fig. A). Both are a lot more reliable and also less costly than adaptable stainless steel connectors, which are not always permitted. Usage stiff copper instead of flexible copper water lines for the same factors.

If you situate your hot water heater substitute where leakage could create damage to the floor or various other components of the house, set a pan of an approved size under it (metal for gas water heaters). The frying pan should have a drainpipe tube that leads to a residence drainpipe or other accepted place (outdoors where allowed). The temperature and stress safety valve discharge tube also have to lead to a drainpipe if leak would certainly harm the floorings. If routing is hard, go over options with your regional plumbing assessor.

If you stay in an earthquake-prone region, band the hot water heater to the wall surface with special straps (Fig. A; readily available at plumbing shops and house facilities). Your plumbing assessor will certainly tell you if they’re needed.

Establish the brand-new water temperature level setting to no greater than 120 degrees F. to avoid scalding.

Innovative Plumbing & Drain

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

( 602) 892-5634

https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com