Learn how to install an electric water heater with these step by step instructions. To install an electric water heater, you will need common plumbing tools, screwdrivers, a circuit tester or voltmeter, and pipe joint compound. If you have copper pipes, installation kits are available.

Make sure electrical power is off. Check the circuit for power. Let the hot water run until cool. Drain the water heater. Disconnect the electrical wires. Remove the discharge pipe. Connect hot and cold lines to the correct fittings. If soldering, solder the pipe to an adapter first, then connect the adapter to the water heater using pipe joint compound. Add a thermal expansion tank to the cold water line.

Attach the discharge pipe to the temperature and pressure release valve. Never cap or plug the discharge pipe.Turn the cold water supply valve on and fill the tank. Open the hot water faucet and let the hot water run full for 3 minutes. Check the water pressure. Check for leaks. Check the wiring. Connect the power wires. Connect the ground wire to the green ground screw.

Find electric water heaters at http://www.Lowes.com/WaterHeaters

Learn how to install a gas water heater by watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGkME6...

Subscribe to Lowe's YouTube for great how to videos and home improvement tips: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

Or head to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/Lowes

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Electric Water Heater Installation - YouTube

Another cold night ahead and many of us are reaching for a space heater to keep warm. Spokane firefighters say as the temperatures drop they see a 30 to 50 percent increase in fire calls.

"I don't just mean a small up tick," Asst. Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said. "I mean a significant up tick in our volume is very routine this time of year."

He says many of them can be prevented. Make sure there is at least three feet around space heaters, wall heaters and your furnace.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends the following things to keep you safe this winter.

Assistant Chief Schaeffer says inspect your wiring if you have an older house. Over the years it breaks down and might not be able to handle the added load new heaters bring.

"Every year that goes by, it becomes more brittle and more brittle, we recommend you replace that with a licensed electrician," Shaeffer said.

Another thing to have checked, your chimney. Tony Parker, the owner of Woody's Chimney and Masonry says business is starting to pick up. He suggest getting a sweep done to get rid of any creosote that has built up.

"The natural bi-product of a solid fuel is creosote form that is highly flammable and when it burns it can burn up to 3,000 degrees for up to 15 minutes," Parker said.

It may seem like common sense but he says to make sure the area around your fireplace is clear of any flammable materials like kindling or paper.

If you need help heating your home SNAP of Spokane can help. http://www.SNAPWA.org

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Cold weather brings fire hazards with it

TOWER Barges and excavators will arrive here next Monday to start the harbor dredging project. In celebration of the next step in the Historic Harbor Renaissance project, the City of Tower will host a groundbreaking celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The public can come and get an up-close look at the dredging equipment by the East Two River in the morning and learn more about the project over coffee at the Civic Center in the afternoon.

The barge will dredge the river portion of the project until Thanksgiving and then scoop out the harbor area until early January.

The harbor projects development of the future Cobblestone Hotel is also reaching its next step.

On Tuesday, the Tower City Council authorized the harbor committee to apply for a $250,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant program to help install sanitary and storm sewer systems, and water and road reconstruction for the hotel which will sit on the shoreline of the new harbor.

In total, the project will cost $650,000 and the city will cover $50,000. The other $350,000 will be sought from an IRRRB Economic Development grant.

The city is currently negotiating the development agreement for the approximately $3,000,000, 35-unit hotel. According to the harbor committees grant application, the agreement should be signed in November.

In other news, the council:

Will set public hearing dates before setting an ordinance that would restrict council members from holding any other paid or unpaid department head positions for the city until a year after their terms have ended.

Motioned to pay up to $3,000 toward a second water heater at the Vermilion Country School. The total cost of installing a new 50-gallon power vent gas water heater would be $8,400. Steve Abrahamson and Joan Broten denied support for the motion, suggesting the city help cover half of the cost, given that the city renovation project for the school significantly underestimated the hot water needs of the facility.

Since the school opened last fall, the existing 50-gallon 4.5 KW Bradford White electric water heater has been unable to consistently provide adequate hot water to the dishwasher to meet health code. Kitchen staff have had to wash dishes by hand instead.

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Dredging of harbor to begin next week

A law making carbon monoxide warning devices mandatory in Ontario homes took effect Wednesday.

Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi said the odourless, colourless gas kills about 50 Canadians, including 11 Ontarians, every year.

"We know that carbon monoxide gas is a silent killer," Naqvi said Tuesday. "It's a serious issue and that's why we're taking the additional step of requiring carbon monoxide detectors to be in place in all residential homes."

While there will be an emphasis on public education for the next few months, failure to install a carbon monoxide detector carries a fine of $235.

Bill 77 updates the Ontario Fire Code to mandate the use of carbon monoxide warning devices in houses, condos, apartments, hotels and university residences that have a fuel-burning device such as a fireplace, gas stove, water heater or furnace -- or if the home is attached to a garage.

The province will holds its first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, starting Nov. 1.

The devices range in price from $30 to $60 and can be plugged in, hard-wired or battery operated, Naqvi said.

"They save lives which has no price attached to it," Naqvi said.

The Ontario Building Code has required detectors in residential construction since 2011, but this bill applies to all homes in the province.

Progressive Conservative MPP Ernie Hardeman first introduced a private member's bill calling for mandatory carbon monoxide detectors after the tragic death in 2008 of OPP officer Laurie Hawkins, her husband, Richard, and their two children.

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Carbon monoxide detectors mandatory in Ont. homes 0

Insurance choices for a green home

An energy-efficient home is the superhero of housing, providing homeowners with lower utility bills, reduced risk of fire and other benefits, all while helping to sustain the planet. Federal, state and local energy rebates often pick up part of the expense of "going green."

But before you install that solar panel array, wind turbine or solar water heater, check with your home insurance agent. After all, you don't want to make a dumb insurance move with your energy-smart home.

Insurers are bullish on green homes. Farmers, Fireman's Fund, State Farm, Travelers and others offer: premium rebates for building green; policy endorsements that pay the difference to repair a damaged home with environmentally friendly materials; or both.

Ed Charlebois, vice president of personal insurance for Travelers, says there's a good reason insurers roll out the red carpet for a green home.

"It shows that this homeowner is very into good home maintenance, and I will tell you that better-maintained homes are less risky," he says. "It's not that you have a solar water heater; it's that you care about your home and you're going to maintain it to a higher standard."

Here's a look at some insurance considerations when going green.

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Best insurance for 5 green home upgrades

Provided by Networx.com

1. Take Care of Your Furnace. If you live in a chilly place like Minneapolis, an HVAC system that delivers optimal performance is a wintertime must. Schedule a professional maintenance visit for thorough inspection of switches, burners, and safety controls; the motor and blower need to be both checked and cleaned by a skilled technician. A task you can -- and should -- do yourself is changing the air filters every 1-3 months.

2. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector. A carbon monoxide detector can be a lifesaver when you operate equipment powered by an internal combustion engine -- a generator, for example -- or fuel-burning appliance -- a furnace, range, water heater, or space heater. Fuels that produce CO when burnt include natural gas, oil, wood, coal, and more.

3. Maintain Your Ducts. Maintaining ductwork is one of the best ways to lower your fuel bills while enjoying more efficient, healthful heating this winter. Check for leaks and cracks; then use duct mastic and metallic tape to repair. Insulate ductwork. This will pay off in the good ol' summertime as well, preventing unnecessary loss of your A/C's cool air. While you're at it, clear out any mold or dirt hiding in the ductwork.

4. Check Doors and Windows. Another place where you may be losing precious heat is your doors and windows. If you can see daylight through their frames, there are cracks that need attention, pronto, with the help of caulk or weatherstripping. In an older home, consider replacing windows with energy-efficient versions. Over time, the amount you save on utilities will more than offset the cost of replacement.

5. Adjust Your Ceiling Fans. Adjust ceiling fans to rotate clockwise in the cold weather. Simply flipping a switch on the fan housing will change the rotational direction and allow the paddles to better circulate heat produced by your HVAC. The result? You'll feel much warmer for a minimal cost.

6. Clean Your Fireplace and Chimney. Check your chimney (with the help of a flashlight) for leaves, nesting animals, or other blockage, which require removal by a professional. Clean out dirt and leftover ashes from the firebox. To go greener, consider purchasing an EPA-certified insert or a clean-burning electric fireplace.

7. Shield Your Outdoor A/C Unit. Protect your air conditioning unit as it "hibernates" for the season, by means of a special A/C cover. This will shield it from the elements -- wind, rain, snow, and hail -- as well as mice, rabbits, or other pests looking for a cozy winter home.

8. Inspect Your Roof. From the vantage point of your attic, check for daylight peeping through cracks or worn spots in your roof. Then go outside and inspect the roof for "bubbles" or shingles that are missing, curling, loose, or broken. Look at the condition of the flashing too. Trim any overhanging tree branches. When you're in the market for a roof replacement, consider impact-resistant roofing materials.

9. Clear Your Gutters. Clogged gutters will overflow, potentially causing major damage to your home's foundation or roof. Remove the fall's accumulation of dead leaves, pine needles, and twigs by hand (wear sturdy work gloves) or with a trowel. Then scoop out any residue from asphalt roofing shingles. When relatively clear, flush the gutters and the downspouts with water from your garden hose. Repair gutter leaks with silicone sealer and replace damaged hangers.

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10 top to-dos for fall maintenance

By Lena Khzouz The Ile Camera

A Grosse Ile resident is counting her blessings this month knowing that a small fire at her home could have been much worse.

The incident has served as a reminder about fire safety, especially during this time of the year when homeowners are turning their furnaces back on for the colder season.

Fire Marshal Russell Bodrie said that when the resident turned on her furnace for the first time on Oct. 5, it heated up the plywood floor underneath and caught the floor on fire.

The modern-day rule is to place furnaces on cement or stone, but when this house was built many years ago, the hot water boiling system was placed on a wooden floor in a mechanical room.

About 10 or 15 minutes after she turned on the furnace, her house filled with smoke, and she left the house and called 911.

Bodrie said they were able to contain the fire to its room of origin, and that only the plywood under the furnace was damaged. He said they sprayed water on the fire to put it out, although they had to cut the floor to make sure they got it all.

Its common this time of the year for wood to catch fire after homeowners turn on their furnaces for the first time, Bodrie said.

The reason for that is because moisture in wood is what actually causes it to burn. During the winter months when furnaces are constantly running, the wood remains dry throughout the months. Over the summer while the furnace is not in use, the wood has collected just enough humidity to give it the fuel to burn, he said.

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Fire department warns of dangers associated with first use of furnace

It was just an hour after Countryside Fire Protection District officials had finished serving pancakes at a safety event Sunday when the department received a 911 call from a home with five family members feeling ill.

According to fire officials, it is the season for carbon monoxide incidents, in which the odorless and tasteless gas can sneak up on residents when they crank up the gas furnace for the first time in months. The gas can also leak into a home if a furnace or gas-fired hot water heater is in need of repairs.

Were getting into that time of year, Fire Marshall Michael McNally said. A lot of people dont realize it is the law.

Sundays call came in at 1 p.m. from a home in the 300 block of Sutcliffe Circle in Vernon Hills. The caller told emergency dispatch that everyone woke up feeling sick.

They exited the building to call 911. They did the right thing rather than remaining in the building to make the call, McNally said.

When the first ambulance arrived, found everyone was safe outside. A second ambulance was called to take the family to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

High levels of the gas were found inside, and the gas company responded to cut off the gas to the homes furnace and hot water heater. They indicated the gas source was in the area of the furnace and hot water heater, McNally said.

Illinois residents and property owners have been required to have carbon monoxide detectors within 15 feet of all rooms used for sleeping since January 2007.

McNally didnt say whether the Vernon Hills family had detectors. He did say they are essential.

You never know when its going to happen and you wont know unless you have a detector, he said, reiterating that carbon monoxide has no odor or taste and cannot be seen.

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Fire officials warn its the season for carbon monoxide incidents

CINCINNATI -- As weather in the Tri-State took its first dip to near freezing temperatures over the weekend, Cincinnati crews responded to their first home emergency involving carbon monoxide (CO) gas.

Shortly after midnight Monday, firefighters and medical technicians responded to the scene of possible CO poisoning.

A woman coming home to her apartment complex in the 2000 block of Stratford Avenue said she her downstairs neighbor calling out for help.

The woman called 911. When crews arrived they found a woman and child inside with high levels of the poisonous gas that is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels such as natural gas.

Though firefighters could not confirm the cause until their investigation into the incident was completely, they initially believed a faulty heating unit turned on during the night created the dangerous situation.

Duke Energy workers arrived on the scene and turned the gas lines off to the building.

The mother and child were transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment. Their condition was not immediately available.

The incident stands as a reminder for anyone with gas heat in their home to take extra precautions as they turn on furnaces for the first time.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas usually given a faint odor by energy providers like Duke Energy for easier detection. If you turn on your heater and there is an odd smell in your home, turn the unit off.

The Center for Disease Control recommends having gas heating, water heaters and other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

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Crews respond to possible CO poisoning

Everybody worries about protecting their investments: their savings, their 401(k), their stocks.

One'shome is also a big investment and it, too, needs to be protected with periodic maintenance. Here is a checklist of chores that, if followed, will help you keep your home in top shape and make it cozier for the winter ahead.

Gutters and downspouts:Water is one of a home's biggest enemies, especially rainwater that is shed off the roof of an average home.

When allowed to collect at the perimeter of a foundation, excessive water can result in a damp and musty basement or cause foundation movement that produces cracks.

If your home doesn't have gutters and downspouts, install them. If it does, be sure they are clean of leaves and debris. Consider installing a gutter protection system.

Drainage: In addition to havingclean gutters and downspouts, make sure the downspouts discharge into a subsurface drainage system or, failing that, at least 3 to 5 feet from your foundation.

Allowing downspouts to discharge at the base of the foundation is worse than not having gutters at all because of the high concentration of water.

Also, make sure all your soil is graded, or sloped,to drain away from the foundation.

Water heater and plumbing pipes: You can maximize your water heating dollar by removing sediment at the base of your water heater's tank. The sediment that collects over time greatly reduces burner efficiency and can even cause damage to the interior lining of the tank when allowed to superheat.

Adjust burners for the most fuel-efficient and safest combustion. For flames, blue is good, yellow isn't.

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Getting your home ready for winter