When your hot water heater starts to leak, you need to change it quick. We’ll reveal you just how to install your own gas water heater in less than a day. Also if you don’t need a brand-new hot water heater today, possibilities are you will within the next couple of years. Hot water heater tend to last seven to 15 years. If your own is obtaining old, this short article is additionally for you. Replacing a hot water heater isn’t challenging if you’re handy with standard devices and also have a little bit of experience soldering copper.

Devices Needed

4-in-1 screwdriver

Adjustable wrench

Electric tape

Pipe wrench

Plumbers tape

Shatterproof glass

Soldering lantern

Measuring tape

Tube cutter

Voltage tester

Wire stripper/cutter

Materials Required

Release pipe

Fittings

Pipeline thread compound

Stress relief valve

Solder

Venting pipeline and also connectors

Water and gas piping

Getting Going Installing Your New Hot Water Tank

We’re replacing a gas hot water heater in our demo. The steps for changing a gas water heater are specifically the exact same, as well as those for an electric water heater are similar.

Regardless, when you’re intending a water heater replacement, play it risk-free. Call your regional department of assessments and also ask if you require a license. As well as make sure a pipes or electrical examiner checks your job.

Installment Prices and Labor

Plumbers usually charge $45 to $65 a hr and can typically mount a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hrs.

Many residential hot water heater cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing professional mount it. Extra expensive gas hot water heater with special venting systems likewise are offered. However they’re harder to mount, and we will not deal with them right here.

Hot Water Heater Parts and also Breakdown

Flue pipe

Cold water shutoff valve

Draft diverter

Temperature and also stress safety valve

Overflow pipeline

Hot water electrical outlet

Anticorrosion Anode Rod

Dip tube

Components

Insulation

Drain shutoff

Thermostat or control valve

Burner

Thermocouple

Gas supply shutoff

When to get a new water heater

Your hot water heater is dead when the container leakages. The indicator that your hot water heater needs changing is a slow-moving drip underneath, generally appearing as a trail of rustic water. This suggests that the steel tank has rusted through and also can not be fixed. Various other signs, such as inadequate or no hot water, usually signal other water heater repair issues that you can repair.

If you find a drip, strategy to change the hot water heater as soon as possible. Don’t wait till the leak obtains bad.

Brand-new water heaters include setup directions and great deals of cautions to make sure you deal with the gas, electric and also other links safely. In this short article, we’ll supplement those fundamentals with methods and also “real life” recommendations from several specialist plumbing professionals.

However take heed: You’ll be working with natural gas, propane or power, every one of which are hazardous. If you don’t feel confident, call in a professional to deal with the hard components. And also have your job inspected when it’s done.

Pipes codes differ by region. Explain your planned installation to your neighborhood pipes examiner, consisting of the sorts of products you intend to make use of for your brand-new connections. Better to get assistance initially so you don’t have to change points later on!

Figure A: Gas Hot Water Heater Details

Water

FAMILY HANDYMAN

To publish out this photo, see the Extra Details at the end of this article.

Figure B: Connections for Steel and Plastic Pipeline

HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN

Lots of houses have actually galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) water pipelines. Galvanized steel pipelines are challenging to replace. We advise that you get rid of the pipelines back to the closest tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple and also complete the connections with copper as shown in our image series.

Due to potential heat build-up, maintain plastic pipe at the very least 6 in. away from the vent and storage tank. Make a shift from plastic to copper with an unique coupling that’s available anywhere CPVC is sold.

Flexible copper ports are simpler to install than solid copper, specifically when the existing pipelines and the container inlets do not line up. However not all neighborhood codes enable them. If yours does, take unique treatment not to pinch or kink them. You can obtain a leak.

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Job step-by-step (12 )

Step 1

Turn off the gas as well as water

gas

Turn off the gas to the hot water heater by turning the nearby shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the manage need to be at a best angle to the pipe. Shut off the primary water too and also drain pipes the lines by opening up a tap on the lowest flooring.

Action 2

Drain the water in the tank

pipe

Attach a yard pipe to the drainpipe valve and drain the water left in the storage tank. Caution: The water will be scalding hot! Separate the gas line at the nearby union with a pair of wrenches and also unscrew the pipe from the gas control shutoff with a monkey wrench.

Action 3

Cut off the water lines

Unscrew

Loosen the vent pipeline from the air vent hood and also 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 ports if you have them.) Slide the old water heater out of the way.

Tip 4

Affix the safety valve

Cover

Wrap the strings of the brand-new temperature and stress safety valve with Teflon tape (3 turns). Screw it tightly right into the storage tank with a pipe wrench. Attach a copper discharge pipeline (see Fig. A for transmitting details).

Tip 5

Connect pipeline settings up

Solder

Solder new copper adapters to 6-in. sizes of 3/4-in. copper and also screw the settings up into the hot water electrical outlet and cool water inlet ports in the top of the container. Add short, plastic lined nipples to shield versus galvanic rust, particularly if you have tough water or if they’re required by neighborhood codes.

Step 6

Affix the water lines

Slide

Move the new hot water heater right into location, recut or extend the old tubes to fulfill the brand-new, and also solder the tubing with each other utilizing copper slip combinings. If the tubing does not align, offset the lines as needed with pairs of 45-degree elbows.

Action 7

Reattach the vent

Reconnect

Reconnect the vent. Push it firmly over the draft hood as well as anchor it with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet metal screws. Predrill the openings. The vent ought to rise a minimum of 12 in. up and down prior to turning at the first elbow.

Step 8

Usage two wrenches to affix the gas line

pipeline

Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipe joint compound as well as screw the very first nipple area right into the gas shutoff. Use two pipe wrenches to avoid worrying the valve. Rebuild the continuing to be nipple areas, ending up with the union (Photo 2). Then comply with these 4 steps to fill the tank: (1) Close the drain shutoff; (2) transform the water back on at the major shutoff and also open up the chilly water valve to the water heater (leave it open); (3) turn on a close-by warm water tap up until water comes out; and also (4) evaluate all the joints and also fittings for water leakages.

Tip 9

Look for backdrafting

The majority of hot water heater count on an all-natural draft to attract burning fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t function, those fumes, possibly consisting of deadly carbon monoxide, will splash out right into your residence. After finishing your installment, check the draft.

Close all outside doors and windows and switch on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust followers. After that open a nearby warm water tap till you listen to the burner in the water heater ignite. After a min, move a smoking match around the edge of the draft hood (Image 7) on top of the heater. The smoke ought to be formulated the vent pipe. If the smoke doesn’t draw, the fumes from the burner aren’t airing vent. Shut off the gas to the hot water heater as well as call an accredited plumbing to deal with the trouble.

Step 10

Look for leaks

Try to find bubbles at connections

bubbles

Turn on the gas as well as examine connections for leaks by brushing a 50-50 combination of dishwashing fluid and water over the joints. If the mix bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten up or reconnect joints that leakage. Wipe the joints completely dry when completed. Call the pipes inspector to check over your work. Adhere to the how-to guidance that goes along with the images to make certain the connections are limited.

These ideas will certainly make your job go quicker and also easier:

Gauge the height of your old hot water heater and also purchase a new one the very same height so you do not need to change the length of the water, gas or electric lines.

The drain valve (Photo 2) on old hot water heater frequently clogs up. If the water drains slowly, hold your horses. CAUTION: It’s scalding warm! TIP: Turn your water heater off 2 hrs ahead of time to allow the water to cool.

Water heaters weigh concerning 150 pounds. You’ll need a solid assistant or a dolly when you relocate the old one out and also wheel the new one in. Garbage solutions normally charge about $25 to take the old one. Cutting-edge Pipes & & Drain

Innovative Plumbing & Drain

8055 E Thomas Rd Unit K101 Scottsdale, AZ 85251

( 602) 892-5634

https://innovativeplumbingdrain.com