When your water heater starts to leakage, you have to change it quickly. We’ll reveal you how to install your very own gas hot water heater in less than a day. Even if you don’t need a brand-new water heater right now, possibilities are you will certainly within the next couple of years. Water heaters tend to last seven to 15 years. If yours is obtaining old, this post is also for you. Changing a hot water heater isn’t difficult if you’re handy with fundamental devices and also have a bit of experience soldering copper.
Devices Needed
4-in-1 screwdriver
Adjustable wrench
Electric tape
Monkey wrench
Plumbers tape
Safety glasses
Soldering lantern
Measuring tape
Tube cutter
Voltage tester
Cable stripper/cutter
Products Required
Release pipe
Installations
Pipeline thread compound
Stress relief valve
Solder
Venting pipe and ports
Water and gas piping
Getting Going Setting Up Your New Warm Water Tank
We’re replacing a gas hot water heater in our demonstration. The actions for changing a lp water heater are specifically the very same, and those for an electric water heater are comparable.
All the same, when you’re preparing a water heater replacement, play it secure. Call your local division of inspections and also ask if you need a license. As well as ensure a pipes or electrical examiner checks your work.
Setup Prices and also Labor
Plumbings generally charge $45 to $65 an hour and can normally mount a water heater in a day or in 6-8 hrs.
A lot of residential hot water heater cost $150 to $400 for either gas or electrical, plus $200 to $450 if you have a plumbing professional mount it. Extra costly gas hot water heater with special venting systems likewise are offered. Yet they’re more difficult to install, and we won’t manage them right here.
Hot Water Heater Parts and Failure
Flue
Cold water shutoff valve
Draft diverter
Temperature level as well as stress relief valve
Overflow pipe
Warm water electrical outlet
Anticorrosion Anode Pole
Dip tube
Components
Insulation
Drain pipes shutoff
Thermostat or control shutoff
Heater
Thermocouple
Gas supply shutoff
When to obtain a brand-new hot water heater
Your hot water heater is dead when the storage tank leakages. The telltale sign that your hot water heater requires changing is a slow-moving drip beneath, generally turning up as a path of rustic water. This means that the steel tank has rusted with and can not be taken care of. Various other signs and symptoms, such as inadequate or no hot water, generally signal other hot water heater repair service issues that you can take care of.
If you spot a drip, strategy to replace the water heater right now. Don’t wait up until the leakage gets bad.
New water heaters come with installation directions as well as lots of warnings to make sure you take care of the gas, electric as well as various other links securely. In this write-up, we’ll supplement those basics with strategies as well as “real life” suggestions from numerous professional plumbing technicians.
But take heed: You’ll be dealing with natural gas, lp or electrical power, every one of which are dangerous. If you do not feel confident, hire a professional to care for the difficult components. As well as have your job evaluated when it’s done.
Pipes codes vary by area. Describe your planned setup to your regional pipes examiner, including the types of products you plan to use for your new links. Much better to obtain assistance initially so you don’t have to change points later on!
Number A: Gas Hot Water Heater Information And Facts
Water
FAMILY MEMBERS HANDYMAN
To print out this image, see the Added Information at the end of this post.
Figure B: Connections for Steel and also Plastic Pipe
FAMILY HANDYMAN
Many homes have galvanized steel or plastic (CPVC) supply of water pipes. Galvanized steel pipelines are difficult to change. We advise that you remove the pipelines back to the nearest tee, screw on a plastic-lined galvanized nipple and complete the connections with copper as shown in our photo series.
As a result of possible warm accumulation, keep plastic pipeline at the very least 6 in. away from the vent and also tank. Make a shift from plastic to copper with an unique coupling that’s readily available anywhere CPVC is marketed.
Versatile copper connectors are easier to set up than strong copper, especially when the existing pipelines and the storage tank inlets do not align. Yet not all neighborhood codes permit them. If yours does, take special treatment not to squeeze or kink them. You might get a leakage.
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Project detailed (12 )
Action 1
Shut off the gas as well as water
gas
Switch off the gas to the water heater by transforming the neighboring shutoff valve a quarter turn. When off, the deal with need to be at a best angle to the pipe. Shut off the primary supply of water also and drain pipes the lines by opening a faucet on the lowest floor.
Step 2
Drain the water in the storage tank
tube
Affix a garden hose pipe to the drain shutoff and also drain the water left in the storage tank. Caution: The water will certainly be scalding hot! Detach the gas line at the neighboring union with a pair of wrenches and also loosen the pipe from the gas control valve with a monkey wrench.
Action 3
Cut off the water lines
Unscrew
Unscrew the vent pipe from the air vent hood and relocate sideways. Then reduce the hot and cold water lines with a tube cutter. (Unscrew unions for galvanized pipe or the nuts on versatile adapters if you have them.) Move the old hot water heater out of the way.
Tip 4
Attach the safety valve
Wrap
Wrap the threads of the brand-new temperature as well as stress relief valve with Teflon tape (three turns). Screw it securely into the tank with a pipe wrench. Connect a copper discharge pipe (see Fig. A for transmitting information).
Tip 5
Attach pipe settings up
Solder
Solder new copper adapters to 6-in. lengths 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 container. Include short, plastic lined nipple areas to shield versus galvanic corrosion, especially if you have hard water or if they’re needed by local codes.
Step 6
Connect the water lines
Slide
Move the new water heater right into area, recut or extend the old tubes to satisfy the brand-new, and solder the tubes with each other making use of copper slip couplings. If the tubes does not line up, offset the lines as needed with sets of 45-degree elbow joints.
Step 7
Reattach the air vent
Reconnect
Reconnect the air vent. Push it snugly over the draft hood and also anchor it with 3 3/8-in. No. 6 sheet metal screws. Predrill the openings. The vent need to rise at the very least 12 in. up and down prior to turning at the initial elbow joint.
Tip 8
Use 2 wrenches to connect the gas line
pipe
Reconnect the gas line. Cover the threaded ends with pipe joint substance and also screw the first nipple into the gas shutoff. Usage two pipe wrenches to stay clear of stressing the shutoff. Reassemble the staying nipple areas, ending up with the union (Image 2). After that follow these four actions to load the tank: (1) Close the drainpipe valve; (2) transform the water back on at the primary shutoff and also open the cool water valve to the water heater (leave it open); (3) activate a close-by warm water faucet up until water comes out; and (4) evaluate all the joints and also fittings for water leaks.
Tip 9
Look for backdrafting
The majority of hot water heater rely on an all-natural draft to attract combustion fumes up the flue. If the draft does not work, those fumes, potentially having lethal carbon monoxide gas, will certainly spill out right into your house. After completing your setup, check the draft.
Close all outside windows and doors and also switch on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust followers. Then open a close-by warm water faucet up until you hear the burner in the hot water heater ignite. After a min, relocate a smoking cigarettes match around the edge of the draft hood (Photo 7) in addition to the heating unit. The smoke should be formulated the vent pipe. If the smoke doesn’t attract, the fumes from the burner aren’t venting. Turn off the gas to the water heater and call a qualified plumber to remedy the trouble.
Action 10
Check for leaks
Try to find bubbles at connections
bubbles
Switch on the gas as well as examine connections for leaks by cleaning a 50-50 blend of dishwashing liquid and water over the joints. If the combination bubbles, you have a leakage. Tighten or reconnect joints that leakage. Wipe the joints completely dry when ended up. Call the plumbing examiner to check out your job. Comply with the how-to suggestions that comes with the images to ensure the connections are tight.
Step 11
Light the pilot burner
Make use of a lighter to light the pilot burner
lighter
Light the pilot light according to the producer’s instructions. (For electric water heaters, turn the power on at the major panel after the electric examiner checks your job.) Lastly, established the temperature to 120 levels F., following the setup guidelines. Light the pilot burner in the new water heater and also readjust the temperature level setup. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Setup Details for Electric Water Heaters
First switch off the power to the water heater at your main electric panel. Then follow the very same draining treatments when it comes to a gas hot water heater.
When the hot water heater is drained pipes, detach the electric cables from the screw terminals under the access panel, which is normally found near the top. (If you don’t have electrical experience, hire an electrician to deal with all the electrical circuitry.)
Adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for wiring the new water heater. If the new hot water heater is much shorter and also the old cables won’t reach, surface-mount a 4-in. x 4-in. x 1-1/2 in. steel electric box on the wall or ceiling close by, run the old wires to the box, and then run a new section of armored cord or electric avenue to the hot water heater. Examine the directions as well as make sure the rating of the old fuse or circuit breaker is high sufficient to take care of the new water heater. Furthermore, the circuit needs to have a shutoff switch within view of the water heater.
Call your local electric inspector prior to you begin the work. You’ll most likely need a license. After that, when you’re finished, have the electric assessor examine your work.
Light weight aluminum electrical wiring needs special delivery. If you have light weight aluminum electrical wiring, hire an accredited pro that’s certified to deal with it. This wiring is dull gray, not the boring orange that’s characteristic of copper.
Action 12
Just how to Dispose of a Hot Water Heater
Jeff Gorton, an editor at The Household Handyman, will certainly reveal you exactly how to get rid of as well as take care of a hot water heater in our video tutorial. He will certainly additionally reveal you the very easy method to lug a water heater out of your home, also if you are functioning alone.
These suggestions will certainly make your job go quicker and also easier:
Measure the height of your old water heater as well as purchase a new one the very same height so you do not have to change the length of the water, gas or electrical lines.
The drain valve (Picture 2) on old hot water heater commonly blocks. If the water drains pipes gradually, be patient. CAUTION: It’s scalding warm! SUGGESTION: Turn your water heater off two hrs in advance to enable the water to cool down.
Hot water heater consider concerning 150 lbs. You’ll need a strong assistant or a dolly when you relocate the old one out and wheel the brand-new one in. Rubbish services normally charge concerning $25 to take the old one. Innovative Plumbing & Drain
Prior to you start, purchase the devices as well as materials revealed here at a plumbing supply or hardware store or a house facility. Check the sizes of the water pipes (most will be 3/4 in. like the ones in our photos) and purchase the right-size fittings. With everything on hand, you’ll need 4 to six hrs to complete the job (presuming no large hitches!).
The temperature level and also stress safety valve is a security gadget that restricts tank stress as well as maintains it from taking off (Picture 4). A new one should be included with every setup. For the shutoff to function correctly, the discharge pipe must be kept free of blockages (Fig. A).
In areas with extremely mineralized water, or where needed by neighborhood codes, utilize 3/4-in. plastic-lined nipples (about $2 each; Image 5 as well as Fig. A) for joining different metals, generally copper tubes to the steel container. This slows down rust.
When connecting the water lines, solder the copper installations before you screw them to the tank so you do not heat the container itself while soldering (Image 5).
Use “slip” couplings to connect the old as well as new lines (Picture 6). Unlike routine combinings, they don’t have an inner stop. You can slide them on, line up the copper tubing, after that slide them back and focus them over the joint.
The brand-new inlets and outlets on the container do not always line up with the old supply lines. Solder in a pair of 45-degree installations to counter each line if required. Likewise change the old shutoff valve with a brand-new sphere shutoff while you go to it (Picture 6). Air vent sizes are sized according to the heat output of the hot water heater. You could have to increase or decrease the air vent dimension to guarantee the most effective draft. CARE: If you’re not sure if your chimney has a lining, ask your pipes examiner. Cutting-edge Pipes & & Drain
Make gas links with strong steel pipeline (Photo 8) or soft copper with flare fittings (Fig. A). Both are extra trustworthy and less expensive than flexible stainless-steel adapters, which are not always permitted. Use stiff copper as opposed to flexible copper water system lines for the very same factors.
If you locate your water heater substitute where leak might cause damage to the floor or other components of your house, set a frying pan of an accepted size under it (steel for gas hot water heater). The pan must have a drain tube that brings about a residence drainpipe or other accepted place (outdoors where permitted). The temperature level and also pressure relief valve discharge tube also should lead to a drain if leak would damage the floorings. If directing is hard, discuss options with your regional plumbing inspector.
If you stay in an earthquake-prone region, band the hot water heater to the wall with unique bands (Fig. A; readily available at pipes stores as well as home centers). Your pipes assessor will inform you if they’re needed.
Set the brand-new water temperature setting to no more than 120 degrees F. to avoid hot.
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