The installation of a water heater in your home can be a complex process that requires a plumbing permit from your local building department. To begin, you need to obtain one and remove the old water heater. Disconnect the water lines, set up the new water heater, wrap the heat trap fitting threads, replace the shut-off valve, and install the water relief lines and pressure relief line.
To install an electric water heater, follow these steps:
Turn the water supply on hot and let it run until the water is cool. Shut off the cold-water supply line and connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Shut off the gas and water.
Place the gas water heater on top of cinder or concrete blocks using a lifting trolley or forklift. When the water is cold, find a local installer.
Wire the new water heater by shutting off water supply lines, draining, and soldering pipes. Connect the valve to the hot- and cold-water supply and outlet pipe. If additional connections are needed, remove the tank fitting and copper tube and solder them together.
Slide the new water heater into place, recut or extend the old tubing to meet the new, and solder the tubing together.
Connect the black wire from the circuit and any wire from the water heater to the white wire (“hot”) and secure with a wire nut.
In summary, the installation of a water heater involves several steps, including obtaining a plumbing permit, disassembling the water heater, and connecting the water lines.
📹 Gas Water Heater Installation
Steps: 00:00 – Check Labels on Old Tank 00:14 – Ensure Venting Works 00:35 – Check Home Water Pressure 00:59 – Install …
Is it safe to install your own water heater?
It is recommended that a licensed professional plumber be engaged to install a water heater, as attempting to do so without the requisite qualifications and expertise could result in significant damage to the property and pose a risk to the occupants.
Does a hot water heater have to be on its own circuit?
The National Electric Code (NEC) mandates that water heaters and other fixed appliances must be hard-wired directly to a dedicated circuit and cannot be connected with a cord and plug. This is because water heaters draw significant power and generate a lot of heat, making cords and plugs a potential fire hazard. Older water heater plugs often become warm to the touch, indicating electrical resistance and melting plastic around brass contacts.
Gas water heaters do not require an electrical disconnect, as they use a gas burner to heat water, ignited by a pilot light. However, they may require an electrical connection for control circuitry, electronic ignition, or safety features like a blower or draft inducer. In such cases, the electrical connection should be protected by a circuit breaker or fuse, which can serve as a disconnecting means.
Does a hot water heater have to be hard wired?
The National Electric Code (NEC) mandates that water heaters and other fixed appliances must be hard-wired directly to a dedicated circuit and cannot be connected with a cord and plug. This is because water heaters draw significant power and generate a lot of heat, making cords and plugs a potential fire hazard. Older water heater plugs often become warm to the touch, indicating electrical resistance and melting plastic around brass contacts.
Gas water heaters do not require an electrical disconnect, as they use a gas burner to heat water, ignited by a pilot light. However, they may require an electrical connection for control circuitry, electronic ignition, or safety features like a blower or draft inducer. In such cases, the electrical connection should be protected by a circuit breaker or fuse, which can serve as a disconnecting means.
Is hooking up a water heater hard?
Installing a water heater requires a combination of plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilating, and carpentry skills, knowledge of state and local building codes, obtaining a permit, and arranging an inspection with the municipality. Failure to comply with plumbing codes can put you at substantial risk. Hiring a licensed plumber can help avoid spectacular failures, avoid common mistakes made by DIY plumbers, and ensure a higher quality water heater.
In Dallas-Fort Worth, there are experienced plumbers available to help with tankless and traditional tank water heater installation. For quality plumbing, heating, and air service in Dallas-Fort Worth, contact billyGO today.
Can I hook up a water heater myself?
The installation of water heaters is a complex process that requires permits, inspections, and a comprehensive understanding of plumbing, electrical, and carpentry to ensure the safety of the installation and to prevent the voiding of the warranty.
Does it matter which way you wire a hot water heater element?
Make wire connections by wrapping black and white circuit wires around screw terminals on the heating element. Tighten the screws and ensure they are tight.
Reassemble the Cover Plate by replacing the thermostat cover, tucking insulation back in place, and reattaching the heating element cover plate onto the water heater tank.
Turn on power by switching on the water heater’s circuit breaker, let the water heat up, and test the temperature. Make any necessary thermostat adjustments.
How to connect water to a water heater?
Installing a water heater is a simple process that involves soldering pipes, aligning connections, and securing valves. It can take a few hours and requires basic tools and construction supplies. If replacing an old hot water heater, cut the pipes away, turn off every valve, and drain it of water. To remove an old heater, turn off the cold water valve, switch off the gas valve and electric supply at the circuit breaker, attach a hose to the drainage pipe, unscrew and disconnect the vent shaft at the top of the heater, and remove any remaining unions with a pipe wrench or tubing cutter. Place the heater on a lifting trolley or forklift, place it in your truck, and bring it to the proper disposal facility. If you cannot carry the heater yourself, consider hiring a removal service.
Is installing a water heater easy?
Replacing tank-type gas water heaters requires making connections to gas piping and combustion gas venting. It is recommended to hire a professional plumber unless you are familiar with these tasks. Before purchasing a new gas water heater, check the old tank’s size and energy specifications. Water heaters manufactured after 2015 meet new energy code requirements, offering more insulation and larger units. Measure the area where the old water heater fits and ensure it will fit in the current space.
Confirm that your installation will comply with local plumbing code mandates for your location and water heater type. Tools needed for installation include adjustable wrenches, drills, gloves, hand truck, pipe cutter, pipe wrenches, safety glasses, and screwdrivers. Materials needed for installation include buckets, discharge pipe, drain pan, gas leak detection solution, gas water heater, flexible hose kit, garden hose, matches, plumber’s tape, pressure gauge, pressure reducing valve, plumbing pipe and fittings, thermal expansion tank/pressure tank, tire gauge, and vent pipe.
Should I use 2 wire or 3 wire for water heater?
A 6-gallon, 1, 500-watt water heater of modest dimensions necessitates the use of a 12/2 plus ground wire. In contrast, the majority of electric tank-type water heaters require the deployment of a 10-3 wire in conjunction with a 30-ampere breaker. However, the utilization of a 12-3 wire is deemed sufficient for a 20-ampere breaker.
How should a water heater be wired?
Electric water heaters require a 240-volt dedicated circuit, which serves only the water heater and no other appliances or devices. The circuit wiring includes a 30-amp double-pole breaker and 10-2 non-metallic (NM) or MC cable. The black circuit wire connects to the black wire lead on the water heater, while the white circuit wire connects to the red or white wire lead on the water heater. The white circuit wire should be wrapped with black or red electrical tape to indicate it is a “hot” wire.
Unlike standard 120-volt circuits, a 240-volt circuit carries live current in both black and white wires. The circuit ground wire connects to the green ground screw on the water heater or the water heater’s ground lead, as applicable.
Heating element wiring is also important, as electric water heaters have inner wiring that runs from the wire connection box down along the side of the tank to two different heating elements, each controlled by its own thermostat. These elements have screw terminals connected to wire leads in the water heater, and they are not needed unless replacing a thermostat or heating element on an existing water heater.
📹 How To Install A Gas Water Heater
This Video shows you how to install a gas water heater for your house. If you have an old gas water heater that doesn’t work …
Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes have changed in the past years. One thing not mentioned is the size of the flue pipe. In some cases for example a 40 gallon gas fired atmospheric (Chimney) draft, water heater with a flue pipe size, was 3″ as shown in the article. Most states the size has changed to 4″. The water heaters manufactured now, have what is called a “closed combustion chamber”. Meaning where the pilot and burner assemblies are, is sealed. That is why there is a spark ignition for the pilot. There are circumstances that still allow 3″, but that is an important fact that should have been mentioned, as to specifically check in your area, and circumstance. Due to the potential for Carbon Monoxide to “back draft” into the living space.
Great article! I just learned that most water heaters manufactured after April 2015 are wider (and more expensive) than previous models due to gov regulations requiring them to be more energy efficient. You may need a larger stand or drain pan to accommodate. If your water heater is in a tight space, many of the newer models may not even fit.
Thanks lowes to share the secrecy behind the heater installation. Shut off the whole house water by turn off the switch outside house, which is more secure to use to avoid your in-house valve broken because long time set in rest. Most house has cold water cross-flow to hot pipe issue. So Turnoff whole house cold water will prevent the hot water pipe keeps running off water after turnoff the heater cold water valve.
Can you cover tankless hot water heaters as well? I’ve been considering replacing our tank water heater with a tankless model to be able to keep hot water at all times and to avoid just heating water all the time. What do I need to consider when moving to a tankless hot water heater? What are the advantages/disadvantages? Love these articles! Thank you so much!
Just bought an AO Smith Signature Select (Extended Warranty) gas heater. I see no comment in the paper instructions regarding leveling the water heater. I have always seen this in all appliance installations and wondered why it is absent now. The installer of our old heater did a cock-eyed job and I was not present to watch him. He told my wife he installed it crooked because “The plumbing was the limiting factor in his effort.” I just figured he wanted to put as little into the job as possible and beat it. SO, now I am doing this job myself 10 years later. Level installations for gas are always important?
A gas leak from appliances are not safe to have in your home! Gas leakage could increase the risk of fire or worse, possibly an explosion. The gas is not safe to breathe in either, the stuff is poisonous… Please be extremely careful with gas fireplaces, air conditioning, boilers, ovens/stoves, etc. Also, do not forget to reinstall the aerator! it can act like a semi-filter to keep debris out of your drinking water that comes out of the faucet! It will allow to let the water run smoothly too! You do not want to end up in a messy situation! Other than that, good article!
Me and a buddy did this. Funny story, he says now we gonna get this in here? It was sitting on top of a about 3′ foundation. I said hold my beer. I grabbed it and lifted it up by myself and it was in. Looked at him, he was scratching his head with jaw dropped. I said what, I take your heavy ass air compressor out of your car all the time
Not sure if anyone will see this in time but I had a plumber come over to take a look and we don’t want to spend 1.4k on an installation so we’re doing it ourselves. The plumber wrote out a list of what we need, and in that list there was a 3/4 ” brass nipple 4” and i have no idea what that is for… also what do we do if the yellow pipe for gas isn’t coming off…?
Very Nice/ helpfull article,,,, THANKS BUT #1 When a person replaces a gas HWT, he shops for a 40 gallon “TALL or “SHORT” replacement tank.? RIGHT? I needed a 40 gal ‘tall’ to fit into the SAME EXACT PLACE!. The FIRST thing that you should mention in the article, is that the FEDS mandated the changing of the SIZES of the tanks (2 or 3 years ago?),,,,, and that NOW, the 40 gallon ‘TALL’ tanks are + – 4″ higher/ taller! SO NOW, NONE OF MY COPPER 1/2″ PIPES, UNIONS, & VALVES WILL FIT! I have to replace everything!!!! SO NOW, MY EXHAUST PIPE IS PERT-NEAR FLAT! NO 1/4″ DROP per FOOT,,, AND NO 12″ VERTICAL RISER,,,, LIKE THE INSTALLATION MANUAL SHOWS, BUT YOUR article DOESN’T!!! (according to the ‘manual’, YOUR DOING IT WRONG!) I’ll have to drill through the concrete wall, into the chimney & LINER,,,,,, to raise my EXHAUST/ stack pipe opening!? My chimney opening IS BEHIND MY FURNACE! &^%$#!! OR,,,,, I’ll just have to TAKE THIS ‘TALL’ 40gal UNIT BACK TO THE STORE, (it doesn’t fit) AND BUY THE “SHORT” MODEL! I’ll have to start all over again!????? Wouldn’t it be an intelligent idea to put ALL of this “NEWLY DESIGNED/ TANK SIZE” replacement information/ tips on a store sign,,,, OR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOX!? (the installation manual is on the INSIDE!) BETTER YET,,,, ADD THIS INFO TO YOUR article,,,,, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR article! Say Like, FOR PROPER DRAFTING,,,,, “MAKE SURE YOUR NEW, REPLACEMENT TANK TOP IS 2′ BELOW THE EXHAUST CHIMNEY OPENING!!!!!” BTW,,,,, 3 of MY ‘PLUMBER’ FRIENDS DIDN’T KNOW EITHER!
Pretty good but a few errors here…You don’t need a thermostatic mixing valve- that’s what you your cold water faucet is for, putting in another valve is redundant and doesn’t do anything except cost you money…also what’s with the Lowes bucket? Totally not up to code- all plumbing codes in the USA require the T&P relief line to vent either outside or to a point within 6″ of the floor – NOT a bucket! Note the yellow gas connection – this is CSST – a material known to fail during voltage surges and lightning strikes! This material is actually banned in some US cities! Stay away from it. Finally this appliance (like any) should be grounded against voltage surge and lightning strike but I didn’t see any grounding at all.
Homeowners beware, this article will assist in the installation of a water heater but I noted code violations as well as manufactures installation errors of certain fittings. I hold a master plumber license in the state of Georgia and I would not recommend this article for a homeowner “DIY” project. Water heaters can become dangerous when installed incorrectly. Tank style water heaters are a basic installation for any plumber. Call a plumber, don’t flood your house.
Nice upload. I wish I had gas, but our hood is all-electric. Next water heater I get will be a hybrid, as they can exhaust cold air in my garage in the summer. Also, they have a long guarantee. I would add go with a name brand like rheem, Bradford white, etc. in case you need parts you don’t wanna try to find parts for some unknown foreign brand. I’ve heard most are the same though, just rebranded. Did you consider a tankless? If I had gas, that would be the way I would go. Hope you get another 35 years outta this one.
“it’s not that heavy you can lift it by yourself” haha you gotta understand most people can’t. You’re stronger than avg. I’m stronger than avg but my dimensions are smaller than yours (5’10” and not a great reach) and did it myself awkwardly but I guarantee many people couldn’t. For me wrapping my arms around the thing was the hard part. If I can get a good grip no problem, but that was hard