When your water heater begins to leak, you have to change it quick. We’ll reveal you exactly how to install your very own gas water heater in less than a day. Also if you don’t require a new hot water heater now, possibilities are you will certainly within the following few years. Water heaters have a tendency to last 7 to 15 years. If your own is obtaining old, this post is also for you. Changing a water heater isn’t difficult if you come in handy with basic tools and have a little bit of experience soldering copper.
Tools Required
4-in-1 screwdriver
Adjustable wrench
Electrical tape
Pipe wrench
Plumbers tape
Safety glasses
Soldering lantern
Measuring tape
Tube cutter
Voltage tester
Wire stripper/cutter
Materials Required
Release pipeline
Fittings
Pipeline string substance
Pressure relief valve
Solder
Venting pipe and also ports
Water and also gas piping
Beginning Putting Up Your New Hot Water Storage Tank
We’re changing a natural gas hot water heater in our presentation. The actions for replacing a gas water heater are precisely the exact same, as well as those for an electrical hot water heater are similar.
In any case, when you’re preparing a water heater substitute, play it risk-free. Call your neighborhood division of evaluations and ask if you require an authorization. As well as make certain a plumbing or electrical inspector checks your work.
Installation Costs and also Labor
Plumbings normally charge $45 to $65 a hr and also can normally set up a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hrs.
Many property water heaters set you back $150 to $400 for either gas or electrical, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing install it. A lot more costly gas water heaters with unique venting systems additionally are available. However they’re harder to mount, and also we will not take care of them right here.
Hot Water Heater Parts as well as Malfunction
Flue
Cold water shutoff valve
Draft diverter
Temperature and pressure safety valve
Overflow pipeline
Warm water electrical outlet
Anticorrosion Anode Rod
Dip tube
Elements
Insulation
Drain valve
Thermostat or control shutoff
Burner
Thermocouple
Gas supply valve
When to obtain a new hot water heater
Your hot water heater is dead when the tank leaks. The indication that your hot water heater requires changing is a slow-moving drip underneath, usually appearing as a path of rustic water. This implies that the steel tank has actually rusted via and also can’t be repaired. Other symptoms, such as not enough or no hot water, normally signal various other hot water heater fixing troubles that you can fix.
If you spot a drip, plan to replace the water heater today. Do not wait up until the leakage gets bad.
New water heaters come with installment guidelines and also great deals of warnings to see to it you handle the gas, electrical as well as other links safely. In this write-up, we’ll supplement those fundamentals with methods and “real world” suggestions from a number of professional plumbings.
However take heed: You’ll be collaborating with natural gas, gas or power, all of which are harmful. If you do not feel confident, call in a pro to look after the difficult components. And also have your job evaluated when it’s done.
Plumbing codes vary by area. Explain your prepared setup to your neighborhood plumbing inspector, including the types of materials you intend to use for your new links. Much better to get assistance first so you don’t need to transform things later on!
Figure A: Gas Hot Water Heater Information
Water
HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN
To print out this photo, see the Added Information at the end of this post.
Number B: Links for Steel and also Plastic Pipe
HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN
Numerous residences have actually galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) water pipelines. Galvanized steel pipes are challenging to change. We suggest that you eliminate the pipelines back to the nearby tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple area as well as finish the connections with copper as received our picture series.
Due to potential warmth accumulation, keep plastic pipeline at least 6 in. away from the air vent and storage tank. Make a change from plastic to copper with a special coupling that’s available wherever CPVC is offered.
Flexible copper adapters are less complicated to set up than solid copper, specifically when the existing pipelines and the tank inlets don’t line up. But not all neighborhood codes allow them. If your own does, take unique treatment not to pinch or kink them. You might get a leak.
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Project step-by-step (12 )
Step 1
Shut off the gas as well as water
gas
Switch off the gas to the water heater by transforming the close-by shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the handle need to go to a best angle to the pipeline. Shut off the primary water supply also and also drain pipes the lines by opening up a faucet on the lowest flooring.
Step 2
Drain the water in the storage tank
hose pipe
Affix a yard pipe to the drainpipe shutoff and drain the water left in the container. Care: The water will be scalding hot! Disconnect the gas line at the neighboring union with a set of wrenches as well as 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 vent hood and move it to the side. After that reduce the hot and cold water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipeline or the nuts on versatile adapters if you have them.) Move the old water heater out of the way.
Step 4
Connect the relief valve
Wrap
Cover the strings of the new temperature level and stress relief valve with Teflon tape (3 turns). Screw it firmly into the tank with a monkey wrench. Connect a copper discharge pipe (see Fig. A for routing information).
Tip 5
Affix pipe assemblies
Solder
Solder brand-new copper adapters to 6-in. lengths of 3/4-in. copper and also screw the settings up right into the hot water electrical outlet and cold water inlet ports in the top of the tank. Include short, plastic lined nipple areas to protect against galvanic deterioration, particularly if you have hard water or if they’re needed by neighborhood codes.
Step 6
Attach the water lines
Slide
Glide the new hot water heater into location, recut or expand the old tubing to fulfill the new, and solder the tubing with each other utilizing copper slip combinings. If the tubing doesn’t align, offset the lines as needed with pairs of 45-degree elbow joints.
Action 7
Reattach the air vent
Reconnect
Reconnect the vent. Shove it snugly over the draft hood and also anchor it with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet metal screws. Predrill the holes. The air vent ought to increase at least 12 in. up and down before transforming at the initial elbow joint.
Tip 8
Use 2 wrenches to attach the gas line
pipeline
Reconnect the gas line. Coat the threaded ends with pipeline joint compound as well as screw the first nipple into the gas valve. Use two pipe wrenches to prevent emphasizing the shutoff. Reconstruct the continuing to be nipple areas, ending up with the union (Image 2). After that comply with these 4 steps to fill up the storage tank: (1) Close the drain valve; (2) turn the water back on at the main shutoff and open the chilly water shutoff to the hot water heater (leave it open); (3) switch on a neighboring hot water faucet up until water comes out; and (4) examine all the joints as well as fittings for water leaks.
Tip 9
Look for backdrafting
Most hot water heater depend on a natural draft to attract combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t work, those fumes, potentially consisting of dangerous carbon monoxide, will spill out into your house. After completing your setup, check the draft.
Close all external doors and windows as well as switch on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. After that open a neighboring warm water faucet till you hear the gas burner in the water heater spark. After a minute, move a smoking suit around the side of the draft hood (Image 7) in addition to the heating unit. The smoke must be formulated the air vent pipeline. If the smoke doesn’t draw, the fumes from the burner aren’t airing vent. Turn off the gas to the hot water heater as well as call a certified plumbing to correct the trouble.
Step 10
Look for leaks
Search for bubbles at links
bubbles
Switch on the gas and also examine connections for leaks by brushing a 50-50 mixture of dishwashing liquid as well as water over the joints. If the blend bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten up or reconnect joints that leak. Wipe the joints dry when completed. Call the plumbing assessor to check over your work. Comply with the how-to guidance that goes along with the photos to make certain the links are tight.
Action 11
Light the pilot burner
Utilize a lighter to light the pilot light
lighter
Light the pilot light according to the producer’s directions. (For electric hot water heater, turn the power on at the main panel after the electric assessor checks your job.) Ultimately, set the temperature level to 120 levels F., adhering to the installation guidelines. Light the pilot burner in the new hot water heater and also change the temperature level setting. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Installation Information for Electric Water Heaters
First shut off the power to the water heater at your major electric panel. Then adhere to the same draining pipes procedures when it comes to a gas water heater.
When the water heater is drained pipes, disconnect the electric cords from the screw terminals under the accessibility panel, which is normally located near the top. (If you don’t have electric experience, employ an electrician to deal with all the electrical circuitry.)
Comply with the maker’s instructions for electrical wiring the new water heater. If the new water heater is shorter and also the old cables will not reach, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. metal electric box on the wall or ceiling nearby, run the old wires to package, and afterwards run a new area of armored cable or electric conduit to the hot water heater. Inspect the instructions and make sure the score of the old fuse or circuit breaker is high sufficient to deal with the new hot water heater. In addition, the circuit must have a shutoff button within sight of the hot water heater.
Call your regional electric inspector prior to you start the task. You’ll most likely need an authorization. After that, when you’re completed, have the electric assessor check your job.
Light weight aluminum electrical wiring needs special delivery. If you have aluminum electrical wiring, employ an accredited pro that’s accredited to collaborate with it. This wiring is dull gray, 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 Family members Handyman, will reveal you exactly how to remove and deal with a hot water heater in our video tutorial. He will certainly additionally reveal you the simple method to carry a hot water heater out of your house, even if you are working alone.
These ideas will certainly make your work go quicker as well as easier:
Measure the elevation of your old hot water heater as well as purchase a new one the very same elevation so you do not have to alter the size of the water, gas or electrical lines.
The drainpipe shutoff (Photo 2) on old water heaters often blocks. If the water drains pipes gradually, hold your horses. CAUTION: It’s scalding hot! TIP: Transform your water heater off 2 hrs beforehand to enable the water to cool.
Hot water heater evaluate regarding 150 pounds. You’ll require a solid helper or a dolly when you move the old one out and also wheel the new one in. Garbage services typically bill concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Before you start, buy the devices as well as materials revealed here at a pipes supply or hardware shop or a house facility. Check the dimensions of the water pipes (most will be 3/4 in. like the ones in our images) as well as purchase the right-size installations. With every little thing on hand, you’ll need 4 to six hrs to complete the job (assuming no large hitches!).
The temperature level and pressure safety valve is a safety device that restricts container pressure and also maintains it from taking off (Picture 4). A new one must be consisted of with every setup. For the shutoff to work properly, the discharge pipeline need to be kept devoid of obstructions (Fig. A).
In areas with very mineralized water, or where required by local codes, make use of 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipples (regarding $2 each; Picture 5 as well as Fig. A) for signing up with different metals, normally copper tubes to the steel container. This reduces deterioration.
When linking the water lines, solder the copper fittings before you screw them to the storage tank so you do not heat the tank itself while soldering (Photo 5).
Use “slip” combinings to connect the old and also brand-new lines (Image 6). Unlike regular couplings, they don’t have an internal stop. You can slide them on, straighten the copper tubing, after that glide them back as well as center them over the joint.
The brand-new inlets and also electrical outlets on the container do not always associate the old supply lines. Solder in a set of 45-degree installations to balance out each line if essential. Likewise change the old shutoff valve with a new round shutoff while you’re at it (Photo 6). Vent sizes are sized according to the warmth result of the water heater. You may have to boost or decrease the vent dimension to make sure the best draft. CAUTION: If you’re uncertain if your smokeshaft has a liner, ask your plumbing inspector. Cutting-edge Pipes & & Drain
Make gas links with strong steel pipe (Picture 8) or soft copper with flare fittings (Fig. A). Both are much more reliable as well as less costly than flexible stainless-steel connectors, which are not always permitted. Usage inflexible copper as opposed to flexible copper water system lines for the same reasons.
If you situate your hot water heater replacement where leakage could create damage to the flooring or other parts of your home, established a frying pan of an accepted size under it (metal for gas water heaters). The pan needs to have a drainpipe tube that leads to a residence drain or various other approved place (outdoors where allowed). The temperature and pressure safety valve discharge tube additionally have to cause a drain if leak would certainly harm the floors. If directing is tough, discuss alternatives with your neighborhood plumbing inspector.
If you reside in an earthquake-prone area, band the water heater to the wall surface with special bands (Fig. A; offered at pipes shops and residence centers). Your plumbing assessor will certainly tell you if they’re called for.
Set the new water temperature setting to no more than 120 degrees F. to stay clear of hot.
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