When your hot water heater starts to leakage, you need to replace it quick. We’ll reveal you exactly how to mount your very own gas water heater in less than a day. Also if you don’t need a new water heater right now, possibilities are you will certainly within the following few years. Water heaters tend to last 7 to 15 years. If yours is obtaining old, this short article is likewise for you. Replacing a hot water heater isn’t difficult if you come in handy with basic tools and have a little experience soldering copper.
Tools Needed
4-in-1 screwdriver
Flexible wrench
Electric tape
Pipe wrench
Plumbers tape
Shatterproof glass
Soldering torch
Measuring tape
Tube cutter
Voltage tester
Cord stripper/cutter
Materials Required
Discharge pipe
Fittings
Pipeline thread substance
Stress relief valve
Solder
Venting pipeline as well as connectors
Water and also gas piping
Getting Going Setting Up Your New Hot Water Container
We’re changing a gas water heater in our demonstration. The actions for replacing a gas hot water heater are exactly the same, and those for an electrical hot water heater are comparable.
Regardless, when you’re preparing a water heater replacement, play it secure. Call your local division of assessments as well as ask if you require an authorization. And also make sure a pipes or electric inspector checks your job.
Setup Prices and also Labor
Plumbings usually charge $45 to $65 an hour and can typically mount a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hrs.
Most household hot water heater set you back $150 to $400 for either gas or electric, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing technician install it. A lot more costly gas hot water heater with unique airing vent systems likewise are available. However they’re harder to install, and we will not manage them below.
Water Heater Parts as well as Malfunction
Flue
Cold water shutoff valve
Draft diverter
Temperature and pressure safety valve
Overflow pipeline
Hot water outlet
Anticorrosion Anode Rod
Dip tube
Elements
Insulation
Drain shutoff
Thermostat or control valve
Heater
Thermocouple
Gas supply valve
When to obtain a brand-new hot water heater
Your water heater is dead when the storage tank leaks. The dead giveaway that your water heater needs changing is a slow drip beneath, usually showing up as a path of rustic water. This indicates that the steel container has actually rusted via and also can not be fixed. Various other signs and symptoms, such as not enough or no hot water, normally signal various other hot water heater repair troubles that you can fix.
If you spot a drip, strategy to change the water heater immediately. Don’t wait till the leak obtains negative.
New hot water heater include setup guidelines and also great deals of cautions to make certain you handle the gas, electric and also various other connections safely. In this write-up, we’ll supplement those fundamentals with methods and “real life” suggestions from several professional plumbing technicians.
However beware: You’ll be working with natural gas, gas or electricity, every one of which are unsafe. If you do not feel confident, employ a pro to deal with the challenging parts. And also have your job inspected when it’s done.
Pipes codes vary by region. Define your prepared installation to your neighborhood plumbing examiner, including the kinds of products you intend to make use of for your brand-new links. Much better to get guidance initially so you do not need to alter things later!
Figure A: Gas Hot Water Heater Information
Water
FAMILY HANDYMAN
To publish out this image, see the Extra Details at the end of this write-up.
Number B: Links for Steel and also Plastic Pipe
HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN
Several residences have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) supply of water pipes. Galvanized steel pipes are hard to change. We suggest that you get rid of the pipelines back to the nearest tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple as well as complete the connections with copper as shown in our image collection.
Due to potential warm build-up, maintain plastic pipe at least 6 in. far from the vent and tank. Make a shift from plastic to copper with a special coupling that’s offered wherever CPVC is marketed.
Flexible copper connectors are much easier to mount than solid copper, particularly when the existing pipes and also the storage tank inlets don’t line up. However not all regional codes permit them. If yours does, take special care not to squeeze or kink them. You can get a leakage.
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Job detailed (12 )
Step 1
Shut down the gas and water
gas
Switch off the gas to the water heater by turning the nearby shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the take care of must be at a best angle to the pipe. Shut off the major water supply as well and drain the lines by opening up a faucet on the most affordable floor.
Step 2
Drain the water in the container
hose pipe
Affix a garden hose to the drainpipe valve as well as drain pipes the water left in the tank. Caution: The water will be scalding hot! Detach the gas line at the close-by union with a set of wrenches and loosen the pipe from the gas control shutoff with a monkey wrench.
Step 3
Cut off the water lines
Unscrew
Loosen the air vent pipe from the air vent hood and also relocate sideways. After that reduce the cold and hot water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipeline or the nuts on flexible ports if you have them.) Glide the old hot water heater out of the way.
Step 4
Attach the relief valve
Cover
Cover the threads of the brand-new temperature level and pressure safety valve with Teflon tape (three turns). Screw it snugly into the container with a pipe wrench. Connect a copper discharge pipeline (see Fig. A for directing details).
Tip 5
Affix pipeline settings up
Solder
Solder new copper adapters to 6-in. lengths of 3/4-in. copper as well as screw the settings up right into the hot water electrical outlet as well as chilly water inlet ports in the top of the storage tank. Add short, plastic lined nipples to secure versus galvanic deterioration, specifically if you have difficult water or if they’re required by local codes.
Step 6
Affix the water lines
Slide
Glide the new hot water heater into area, recut or prolong the old tubing to satisfy the brand-new, and solder the tubing together making use of copper slip couplings. If the tubes does not align, counter the lines as required with sets of 45-degree elbow joints.
Step 7
Reattach the air vent
Reconnect
Reconnect the vent. Push it securely over the draft hood as well as slow with three 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet steel screws. Predrill the openings. The air vent must rise at the very least 12 in. up and down before transforming at the first joint.
Step 8
Usage two wrenches to affix the gas line
pipe
Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipe joint substance as well as screw the initial nipple area into the gas valve. Usage two monkey wrench to avoid worrying the valve. Reconstruct the staying nipple areas, finishing up with the union (Picture 2). After that follow these four actions to fill up the storage tank: (1) Shut the drain valve; (2) transform the water back on at the major shutoff and open up the cold water valve to the water heater (leave it open); (3) switch on a nearby warm water faucet up until water comes out; as well as (4) check all the joints as well as fittings for water leakages.
Step 9
Check for backdrafting
Most hot water heater depend on an all-natural draft to attract combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft doesn’t work, those fumes, possibly containing fatal carbon monoxide, will certainly spill out into your residence. After completing your installation, examine the draft.
Close all outside doors and windows and turn on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust followers. After that open up a nearby warm water tap up until you listen to the gas burner in the hot water heater fire up. After a min, relocate a smoking cigarettes match around the edge of the draft hood (Image 7) in addition to the heating unit. The smoke should be prepared the air vent pipe. If the smoke doesn’t draw, the fumes from the heater aren’t airing vent. Shut off the gas to the water heater as well as call a qualified plumbing to correct the issue.
Step 10
Check for leaks
Try to find bubbles at links
bubbles
Switch on the gas and also check connections for leakages by brushing a 50-50 blend of dishwashing liquid and water over the joints. If the blend bubbles, you have a leak. Tighten up or reconnect joints that leakage. Wipe the joints dry when finished. Call the pipes assessor to check out your job. Follow the how-to suggestions that goes along with the pictures to make sure the connections are limited.
Action 11
Light the pilot light
Use a lighter to light the pilot burner
lighter
Light the pilot light according to the producer’s instructions. (For electrical water heaters, transform the power on at the primary panel after the electrical examiner checks your job.) Finally, established the temperature to 120 levels F., adhering to the installation instructions. Light the pilot burner in the new water heater as well as readjust the temperature level setup. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Setup Information for Electric Water Heaters
First turn off the power to the hot water heater at your major electrical panel. After that adhere to the same draining treatments when it comes to a gas water heater.
When the water heater is drained pipes, separate the electrical cables from the screw terminals under the access panel, which is usually situated near the top. (If you don’t have electric experience, employ an electrician to manage all the electrical wiring.)
Adhere to the maker’s guidelines for electrical wiring the brand-new hot water heater. If the brand-new hot water heater is much shorter and the old cables will not get to, 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 after that run a brand-new area of armored cable television or electric channel to the water heater. Check the guidelines as well as make sure the rating of the old fuse or breaker is high sufficient to manage the brand-new hot water heater. Additionally, the circuit ought to have a shutoff switch within view of the water heater.
Call your local electrical inspector prior to you begin the task. You’ll possibly need an authorization. After that, when you’re ended up, have the electrical assessor inspect your job.
Aluminum wiring calls for special handling. If you have light weight aluminum wiring, call in a certified pro who’s accredited to deal with it. This electrical wiring is boring gray, not the dull orange that’s characteristic of copper.
Step 12
How to Take care of a Water Heater
Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Household Handyman, will certainly show you exactly how to eliminate and deal with a hot water heater in our video tutorial. He will also show you the easy way to lug a water heater out of your residence, also if you are working alone.
These suggestions will make your job go faster as well as easier:
Measure the elevation of your old hot water heater and get a new one the same elevation so you do not have to alter the size of the water, gas or electric lines.
The drain valve (Image 2) on old hot water heater commonly clogs up. If the water drains pipes slowly, be patient. CARE: It’s scalding hot! TIP: Turn your hot water heater off 2 hours in advance to permit the water to cool.
Hot water heater evaluate about 150 pounds. You’ll need a solid assistant or a dolly when you relocate the old one out and wheel the new one in. Trash services normally bill concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Before you begin, acquire the tools and products revealed right here at a pipes supply or hardware store or a house facility. Examine the sizes of the water supply pipelines (most will certainly be 3/4 in. like the ones in our images) as well as buy the right-size fittings. With every little thing available, you’ll need 4 to six hours to complete the task (thinking no large drawbacks!).
The temperature level and also pressure safety valve is a security tool that restricts storage tank pressure and keeps it from blowing up (Photo 4). A new one need to be included with every setup. For the valve to work properly, the discharge pipeline must be kept devoid of obstructions (Fig. A).
In regions with very mineralized water, or where called for by local codes, make use of 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipple areas (concerning $2 each; Photo 5 as well as Fig. A) for joining various steels, typically copper tubing to the steel storage tank. This slows corrosion.
When attaching the water lines, solder the copper installations prior to you screw them to the storage tank so you don’t heat up the storage tank itself while soldering (Picture 5).
Use “slip” combinings to connect the old and also new lines (Image 6). Unlike normal combinings, they don’t have an inner quit. You can glide them on, align the copper tubes, after that move them back and focus them over the joint.
The brand-new inlets and also electrical outlets on the tank do not always associate the old supply lines. Solder in a pair of 45-degree installations to balance out each line if necessary. Additionally change the old shutoff valve with a brand-new ball shutoff while you’re at it (Picture 6). Air vent sizes are sized according to the warm outcome of the hot water heater. You could have to enhance or reduce the vent size to guarantee the best draft. CARE: If you’re unsure if your smokeshaft has a liner, ask your plumbing assessor. Innovative Pipes & & Drainpipe
Make gas connections with strong steel pipe (Image 8) or soft copper with flare installations (Fig. A). Both are much more reputable and less expensive than adaptable stainless-steel connectors, which are not constantly permitted. Usage rigid copper as opposed to versatile copper water system lines for the very same reasons.
If you find your hot water heater substitute where leak might create damages to the floor or various other parts of the house, set a pan of an approved dimension under it (steel for gas hot water heater). The pan should have a drainpipe tube that causes a house drain or various other accepted area (outdoors where allowed). The temperature and also pressure relief valve discharge tube likewise have to cause a drain if leak would harm the floorings. If routing is difficult, talk about choices with your regional pipes assessor.
If you reside in an earthquake-prone region, band the hot water heater to the wall surface with unique straps (Fig. A; available at plumbing stores and also house facilities). Your pipes examiner will inform you if they’re required.
Set the brand-new water temperature level setting to no greater than 120 levels F. to avoid scalding.
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