When your hot water heater starts to leak, you need to change it fast. We’ll show you how to mount your very own gas hot water heater in much less than a day. Even if you don’t need a new water heater today, chances are you will certainly within the next couple of years. Water heaters have a tendency to last 7 to 15 years. If your own is getting old, this write-up is also for you. Changing a hot water heater isn’t challenging if you’re handy with basic tools and have a bit of experience soldering copper.
Tools Called for
4-in-1 screwdriver
Flexible wrench
Electric tape
Monkey wrench
Plumbers tape
Shatterproof glass
Soldering torch
Measuring tape
Tube cutter
Voltage tester
Wire stripper/cutter
Products Required
Release pipeline
Installations
Pipeline thread substance
Pressure relief valve
Solder
Airing vent pipeline and also ports
Water as well as gas piping
Starting Setting Up Your New Warm Water Tank
We’re changing a gas hot water heater in our demo. The steps for changing a gas hot water heater are exactly the same, and also those for an electrical water heater are similar.
Regardless, when you’re planning a hot water heater replacement, play it risk-free. Call your regional department of inspections as well as ask if you require a license. And also make sure a plumbing or electric assessor checks your work.
Installation Costs and Labor
Plumbing professionals generally charge $45 to $65 an hour as well as can generally install a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hours.
The majority of residential water heaters set you back $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing mount it. More pricey gas hot water heater with special venting systems likewise are offered. However they’re more difficult to install, and we won’t handle them here.
Water Heater Components and Break Down
Flue
Cold water shutoff valve
Draft diverter
Temperature level and stress safety valve
Overflow pipeline
Hot water electrical outlet
Anticorrosion Anode Rod
Dip tube
Aspects
Insulation
Drain valve
Thermostat or control valve
Burner
Thermocouple
Gas supply shutoff
When to get a new hot water heater
Your water heater is dead when the storage tank leakages. The dead giveaway that your hot water heater needs replacing is a slow-moving drip beneath, usually showing up as a trail of rusty water. This means that the steel container has rusted through as well as can’t be taken care of. Various other symptoms, such as insufficient or no warm water, normally signal other hot water heater repair service troubles that you can deal with.
If you detect a drip, strategy to replace the water heater right now. Don’t wait until the leakage obtains poor.
Brand-new hot water heater come with installment instructions and great deals of cautions to ensure you deal with the gas, electric and various other links safely. In this short article, we’ll supplement those fundamentals with methods and “real world” advice from numerous professional plumbers.
However beware: You’ll be working with natural gas, gas or power, all of which are unsafe. If you do not feel confident, employ a professional to look after the hard components. And also have your job examined when it’s done.
Pipes codes differ by region. Describe your intended installation to your regional pipes assessor, consisting of the types of materials you plan to use for your brand-new connections. Better to get guidance first so you do not need to alter points later on!
Number A: Gas Hot Water Heater Facts
Water
FAMILY MEMBERS HANDYMAN
To print out this picture, see the Additional Details at the end of this article.
Figure B: Links for Steel as well as Plastic Pipe
FAMILY MEMBERS HANDYMAN
Lots of houses have actually galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) supply of water pipes. Galvanized steel pipes are tough to replace. We suggest that you get rid of the pipelines back to the local tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple and also complete the connections with copper as displayed in our image collection.
As a result of prospective warmth buildup, keep plastic pipe a minimum of 6 in. away from the vent and container. Make a transition from plastic to copper with a special coupling that’s available any place CPVC is sold.
Flexible copper ports are less complicated to mount than solid copper, especially when the existing pipes and also the tank inlets don’t line up. But not all regional codes permit them. If your own does, take special treatment not to squeeze or kink them. You could get a leakage.
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Task step-by-step (12 )
Action 1
Turn off the gas and water
gas
Shut off the gas to the hot water heater by turning the close-by shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the deal with should be at a right angle to the pipe. Turn off the main water supply also and also drain the lines by opening a tap on the lowest flooring.
Step 2
Drain pipes the water in the tank
hose
Affix a garden hose to the drain shutoff as well as drain the water left in the tank. Caution: The water will certainly be scalding warm! Separate the gas line at the nearby union with a pair of wrenches and also unscrew the pipe from the gas control valve with a monkey wrench.
Step 3
Cut off the water lines
Unscrew
Loosen the air vent pipe from the vent hood as well as relocate sideways. After that cut the cold and hot water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipe or the nuts on adaptable ports if you have them.) Glide the old hot water heater off the beaten track.
Step 4
Connect the relief valve
Wrap
Cover the threads of the new temperature as well as stress safety valve with Teflon tape (three turns). Screw it tightly into the tank with a pipe wrench. Affix a copper discharge pipe (see Fig. A for routing information).
Tip 5
Connect pipe settings up
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 storage tank. Include short, plastic lined nipple areas to secure against galvanic deterioration, especially if you have difficult water or if they’re needed by neighborhood codes.
Action 6
Connect the water lines
Slide
Glide the brand-new water heater into area, recut or expand the old tubing to satisfy the new, as well as solder the tubing together using copper slip couplings. If the tubing does not line up, offset the lines as required with sets of 45-degree joints.
Step 7
Reattach the vent
Reconnect
Reconnect the vent. Shove it securely over the draft hood and anchor it with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet metal screws. Predrill the openings. The air vent need to increase at the very least 12 in. up and down before turning at the very first joint.
Tip 8
Usage 2 wrenches to affix the gas line
pipe
Reconnect the gas line. Coat the threaded ends with pipe joint compound as well as screw the very first nipple right into the gas valve. Use 2 pipe wrenches to avoid stressing the valve. Rebuild the continuing to be nipple areas, ending up with the union (Picture 2). After that comply with these four steps to load the storage tank: (1) Close the drain valve; (2) turn the water back on at the primary shutoff as well as open the cool water shutoff to the water heater (leave it open); (3) activate a neighboring warm water tap until water comes out; and (4) examine all the joints and fittings for water leaks.
Tip 9
Check for backdrafting
Many hot water heater rely upon an all-natural draft to draw burning fumes up the flue. If the draft does not function, those fumes, possibly consisting of fatal carbon monoxide, will certainly spill out into your residence. After completing your installment, check the draft.
Close all outside doors and windows and also switch on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. Then open a neighboring warm water faucet till you listen to the gas burner in the hot water heater fire up. After a min, move a smoking match around the edge of the draft hood (Image 7) on top of the heating unit. The smoke must be formulated the air vent pipe. If the smoke doesn’t draw, the fumes from the heater aren’t airing vent. Switch off the gas to the hot water heater and also call a qualified plumbing technician to deal with the issue.
Action 10
Check for leaks
Look for bubbles at connections
bubbles
Turn on the gas and check links for leakages by brushing a 50-50 mix of dishwashing liquid and water over the joints. If the combination bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten up or reconnect joints that leakage. Clean the joints dry when ended up. Call the plumbing assessor to check over your work. Follow the how-to guidance that accompanies the photos to see to it the connections are limited.
Action 11
Light the pilot light
Use a lighter to light the pilot light
lighter
Light the pilot burner according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (For electrical water heaters, turn the power on at the primary panel after the electric inspector checks your work.) Finally, established the temperature to 120 degrees F., complying with the installment directions. Light the pilot burner in the new water heater as well as readjust the temperature setup. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Installment Information for Electric Water Heaters
First turn off the power to the water heater at your main electrical panel. Then follow the exact same draining treatments when it comes to a gas water heater.
When the hot water heater is drained pipes, disconnect the electrical cords from the screw terminals under the gain access to panel, which is usually located near the top. (If you do not have electric experience, work with an electrician to deal with all the electric circuitry.)
Adhere to the producer’s directions for wiring the brand-new water heater. If the new water heater is 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 the box, and afterwards run a new section of armored cord or electrical avenue to the hot water heater. Check the directions as well as see to it the ranking of the old fuse or circuit breaker is high enough to handle the brand-new water heater. On top of that, the circuit must have a shutoff switch within view of the hot water heater.
Call your neighborhood electric inspector prior to you start the task. You’ll possibly need an authorization. After that, when you’re finished, have the electrical examiner examine your job.
Aluminum electrical wiring requires special handling. If you have aluminum wiring, call a qualified pro that’s certified to work with it. This wiring is boring gray, not the dull orange that’s characteristic of copper.
Action 12
How to Dispose of a Water Heater
Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Family Handyman, will certainly reveal you how to get rid of as well as deal with a hot water heater in our video clip tutorial. He will certainly also reveal you the very easy method to lug a water heater out of your residence, even if you are functioning alone.
These suggestions will certainly make your job go quicker and easier:
Gauge the elevation of your old hot water heater as well as buy a new one the exact same height so you don’t need to transform the size of the water, gas or electric lines.
The drainpipe valve (Picture 2) on old water heaters commonly blocks. If the water drains pipes slowly, hold your horses. CAUTION: It’s scalding warm! TIP: Turn your hot water heater off 2 hours beforehand to enable the water to cool.
Water heaters evaluate regarding 150 pounds. You’ll need a strong helper or a dolly when you relocate the old one out as well as wheel the new one in. Waste solutions normally charge concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Prior to you begin, get the devices and also materials shown here at a plumbing supply or hardware shop or a home center. Inspect the dimensions of the supply of water pipelines (most will be 3/4 in. like the ones in our pictures) and get the right-size fittings. With whatever on hand, you’ll require 4 to 6 hours to complete the job (thinking no large drawbacks!).
The temperature level and pressure safety valve is a safety tool that limits tank pressure as well as keeps it from taking off (Image 4). A brand-new one should be included with every installation. For the valve to function appropriately, the discharge pipeline need to be maintained without obstructions (Fig. A).
In regions with highly mineralized water, or where needed by neighborhood codes, utilize 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipple areas (concerning $2 each; Picture 5 and Fig. A) for signing up with various metals, typically copper tubes to the steel storage tank. This slows down rust.
When linking the water lines, solder the copper installations before you screw them to the container so you don’t heat up the storage tank itself while soldering (Picture 5).
Usage “slip” combinings to connect the old as well as brand-new lines (Photo 6). Unlike routine combinings, they do not have an inner stop. You can glide them on, straighten the copper tubes, after that move them back as well as center them over the joint.
The brand-new inlets and also outlets on the tank don’t always associate the old supply lines. Solder in a set of 45-degree installations to offset each line if required. Additionally replace the old shutoff valve with a new ball valve while you go to it (Image 6). Vent diameters are sized according to the warm outcome of the water heater. You might need to increase or lower the vent dimension to ensure the most effective draft. CARE: If you’re not sure if your smokeshaft has a lining, ask your plumbing inspector. Innovative Pipes & & Drainpipe
Make gas connections with strong steel pipe (Picture 8) or soft copper with flare fittings (Fig. A). Both are more trustworthy and also more economical than flexible stainless-steel adapters, which are not always allowed. Usage inflexible copper instead of flexible copper supply of water lines for the same factors.
If you locate your water heater replacement where leak might cause damages to the floor or other components of your house, established a frying pan of an authorized size under it (metal for gas water heaters). The pan needs to have a drainpipe tube that causes a residence drainpipe or various other authorized place (outdoors where allowed). The temperature level and pressure relief valve discharge tube likewise have to lead to a drainpipe if leakage would certainly damage the floorings. If directing is hard, discuss alternatives with your local pipes inspector.
If you reside in an earthquake-prone region, band the hot water heater to the wall with special bands (Fig. A; readily available at plumbing shops as well as home facilities). Your plumbing examiner will certainly tell you if they’re needed.
Establish the new water temperature setting to no greater than 120 degrees F. to avoid scalding.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
( 602) 892-5634
https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com
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