Expert step-by-step instructions for installing a conventional storage tankstyle water heater

Storage water heater is the most common type. Photo: Whirlpool

For many homeowners, replacing an old water heater is simpler than they imagine, especially if the new unit is similar to the old one. If you want to switch from electric to gas or vice versa, however, discuss the various installation options with a professional.

If your home is in an earthquake zone, you will need to install straps around the new water heater (check with your local building department for exact specifications).

If the new tank is a different height than the old one, use flexible pipe connectors for the water inlet and outlet; they will bend as needed to make the hookup.

If the pipes are not threaded, replace them with threaded nipples, and secure the connectors to the nipples with an adjustable wrench. Install a new temperature and pressure-relief valve on the new tank, and test it by squeezing the lever.

1. After draining the tank, unscrew the inlet and outlet fittings.

1) After shutting off the water and gas or power supply to the tank, connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank, open the valve, and run it to a nearby drain or to the outdoors. Use two wrenches to unscrew the inlet and outlet fittings from the top of the tank.

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How to Install a Storage Water Heater | HomeTips

Check the Plumbing Measure the center-to-center dimension between the hot and cold water pipes on the top of the water heater and try to ensure the new heater has the same dimensions. That will make the plumbing job a bit easier. Take a look at the plumbing connecting to the old water heater. Make sure you have a gas union in the gas line if you have a gas water heater, and make sure there is a water shutoff for the cold water inlet pipe and a union connector for the hot water outlet pipe. If you don't have these you're job is a bit harder as you'll have to cut the pipes to remove the old heater, then install the cold water shut off valve, and / or gas union or hot water pipe union. But most plumbers did the right job in the beginning so hopefully everything is in place.

Setting Up Getting the water heater off the truck and down the stairs (if you have a basement installation) is a two person job. I also recommend renting an appliance dolly if possible. For around $20/day it makes bringing the new heater down and the old heater up a lot easier. They are bulky and heavy. Once you have the new heater brought down to the location of the old heater you're ready to go.

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Replacing a Water Heater - Installation Preparation

Heater installed
this is the summit racing heater and duct work installed.

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) Before you tear open that December gas bill, prepare yourself. It could be double what it was last month.

With colder weather moving in again, natural gas companies caution it could further increase consumption, which has risen as temperatures have fallen this month.

Consumption is 97 percent higher than last month due to temperatures that have been 36 percent colder than average for the first half of December, said Becca Virden, a spokesperson for CenterPoint Energy. Were letting our customers know ahead of time so they can be prepared.

The change in consumption has pushed bills higher, even as the commodity price of natural gas has stayed steady, rising from $0.65 to $0.66 per therm in the past month, a negligible increase.

Three things impact customers bills: commodity prices, the economy and consumption, Virden said. The only significant one of those factors (that has changed) in the past month is consumption.

CenterPoint Energy is offering customers advice to cut down on their usage, recommending the following tips:

Furnace: A furnace is the largest natural gas consumer, and typically makes up about 70 percent of your natural gas bill.

Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees when youre home and 65 degrees when youre not. By lowering your thermostat 10 15 percent for eight hours a day, you can save up to 10 percent a year on your heating costs. Installing a programmable thermostat can help you automatically control your heat usage. Add on extra layers of clothing to keep warm.

Change your air filters monthly. A dirty filter restricts airflow and can increase the operating cost of your furnace by as much as 10 percent. A good reminder is to change the filter each time you receive your natural gas bill.

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Tips On Keeping Warm Without Paying A Huge Gas Bill

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Call [PHONE #] for plumbers in Austin, TX
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How much should installing a new water heater cost? And what factors influence that price?

If you notice your showers are becoming shorter and shorter due to a lack of hot water from the water heater, it's likely you've asked yourself this question.

According to highly rated plumbing companies Angies List spoke with, the average lifespan of a traditional tank-style natural gas water heater or electric water heater is only eight to 12 years, making a water heater replacement one of the most common home improvement investments.

So how much should it cost? According to the pros, the actual costs to install a new hot water heater, whether its a conventional unit or a more energy-efficient tankless water heater, are highly variable.

Every installation differs

It can cost anywhere from $700 to $2,000 to install a water heater, says Jason Hanleybrown, CEO of Fast Water Heater Co. a highly rated water heater installation company with headquarters in Kirkland, Wash., and six locations throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.

Mary Geiger, operations manager for highly rated All About the Pipes Plumbing in Charlotte, N.C., explains its hard to provide a reasonable estimate without seeing the water heater installation site first.

The cost depends on the type of installation and that's unique to each individual project, she says. It depends on what type of unit the customers currently have, what theyre replacing it with and what has to change to bring the installation up to current code.

She adds that for her part of the country, most customers choose 50-gallon natural gas water heaters, which can range from $900 to $1,700 installed.

It pays to hire a professional

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How much should Water Heater Installation Cost? | Angies List