Water heaters are supposed to have periodic maintenance but all too often they are just left to churn away without maintenance and thanklessly make hot water for us, day in and day out. When they've had enough, they quit due to rust and corrosion.

The quickest and easiest way to replace a water heater is to have it done by a plumbing professional, but if you can't afford it or really want to do this yourself, then read on. You need to make sure you're following plumbing codes so calling your local plumbing inspector to find out what municipal permitting requirements and specific criteria they may have is a good idea. But replacing a water heater is not extremely hard, and if you follow this tutorial you'll be back in hot water in no time. Well, plan on a good 4 to 6 hours anyway.

Selecting Your New Water Heater When selecting your new water heater it's easiest to keep the same fuel type, whether gas or electric. That is the assumption made in this tutorial, that you'll keep the same fuel type as the water heater you're replacing. You can change the size a bit however. For example, let's say you had a 40 gallon and want to go to a 50 gallon. That should not be a problem as long as you have clearance between the heater and the wall.

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How to Install a Water Heater - Replacing a Water Heater - Hot ...

Install a new gas water heater in your home and save energy and money. When installing your water heater, make sure to follow model-specific information, warnings, safety notices and local codes. These instructions aren't intended for mobile home units. Consult a professional if in doubt.

Youll need common plumbing tools and pipe joint compound approved for fuel gas. Youll also need leak detection solution, or you can use childrens soap bubbles or hand-dishwashing soap mixed with water. Most codes require the water heater to be installed in a metal drain pan. See the installation instructions for information about sizing the drain pan and other installation details.

If your house has copper pipes, consider an installation kit with compression fittings that dont require soldering. If your pipes are plastic, youll need connectors / fittings for the specific type of plastic pipes used in your home. Read the installation instructions for the new connectors before cutting the existing water pipes.

Turn the main gas supply valve off. Also, turn the gas control knob on the old water heater off. Open a hot-water faucet, and let the hot water run until cool. Allow the old water heater and vent pipe to cool.

Connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Place the other end of the hose in a drain or outside (you could also use buckets). Shut off the cold-water supply to the water heater, and open a hot-water faucet and the drain valve. While the water heater is draining, read the installation instructions that came with your water heater.

Disconnect the vent pipe from the draft hood. Inspect the old vent pipes for corrosion, obstructions, leaks or other damage, and repair or replace if necessary. Gas water heaters must have free access to adequate combustion air and must be properly vented. The installation instructions explain these requirements, and they must be followed for safe operation.

Disconnect the gas line at the union (youll need two wrenches for that). Remove the gas pipe from the old water heateryou may be able to reuse it. Save the union, too. Next, remove the water lines and the old water heater. Install the new water heater (in a metal drain pan).

Almost all homes have check valves in the plumbing system and now need a thermal expansion tank installed near the water heater. The expansion tank is attached to the cold-water inlet line. To operate properly, the expansion tank must be pressurized with air. Refer to the expansion tanks instructions for details.

The temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) is an important safety device. It opens to relieve pressure if the water temperature or pressure is too high. Use the new one that came with your new water heater. Dont reuse the old T&P valve.

The T&P discharge pipe should be terminated near a floor drain with an air gap of no more than six inches between the end of the discharge pipe and the drain. Some localities require terminating the T&P discharge pipe outside. In cold climates, we recommend using a floor drain. In all cases, follow the codes for your location.

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Install a Gas Water Heater - Lowe's

Unsure if your water heater is just on the fritz or burned out all together? Here are some tips to help you troubleshoot your water heater.

There are two types of conventional water heaters, gas and electric. An electric water heater can be used almost anywhere. A gas water heater is most likely to be installed in a home that already uses gas for another appliance such as a furnace or stove. Building codes may dictate the placement of gas water heaters, restricting them to areas outside of normal home activity.

It is likely if you are replacing a water heater, you'll simply replace it with the same type of unit that was already there. However, there are upgrade possibilities that should be considered. For example: if space allows, you may choose to increase the unit's holding capacity to accommodate your growing family. Another important consideration is the unit's energy efficiency. Replacement time is the perfect time to lower your energy bill by choosing a water heater that is more energy efficient.

When looking for a water heater, consider these features:

Before making any repairs or purchasing a new water heater, check the nameplate on the side of your current unit. Here you will find helpful information including the tank capacity, insulation R-value, installation guidelines, working pressure, model and serial number. If you have an electric water heater, the nameplate will also list the wattage capacity and voltage of the heating elements.

This information will serve as the starting point in your search for replacement parts, or a complete replacement unit. For an overview on the types of water heaters available, read our Water Heater Buying Guide.

If you choose to replace an electric unit for a gas unit-or vice versa bring in a professional to do the job. Installing or removing gas lines is not a project for the DIYer.

The water heater gets quite a workout in most homes. Based on manufacturer's suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about 8 to 12 years. That, of course, will vary with the severity of local weather, the unit design, quality of installation and the level of maintenance your unit has received.

If your water heater is more than 10 years old, leaks around the base of the tank, and / or works erratically or not at all, it probably needs to be replaced. In any case, make sure that an electrical problem such as a blown fuse or tripped breaker is not the reason for the unit's failure.

Common Problems

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When to Replace a Water Heater - Lowe's

One of the most common household plumbing projects is replacing a water heater. Many potential dangers can result from improper water heater installation. Be sure to check your local codes. Use only the procedures and materials your code allows. This booklet covers replacement of natural gas, LP gas and electric water heaters, the most common types.

The most common overhead-plumbed water heater hookup is shown. Before your can connect the new heater, the old one must be removed.

First, turn off the gas or electricity to the heater.

Next, drain the heater. Open a hot water faucet to allow air into the system.

On a gas heater, separate the vent pipe from the draft hood. The hood should lift off after you remove the sheet metal screw that holds it. After checking that the pilot light is out, disconnect the gas line at the heater and cap it.

Next, remove the heater from its water piping. If the pipes are connected with unionsremovable threaded fittingstake them apart with a pair of pipe wrenches. Pipes without unions must be hack-sawed off. A pipe/tubing cutter will also do the job. The old heater can now be removed and disposed of in an approved manner.

Move your new heater to its location by "walking" it or by using an appliance cart, dolly, or hand truck.

Position the new heater so your pipingparticularly a gas vent pipewill reach easily.

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Replacing a Water Heater | DoItYourself.com

How to install gas water heater Start by selecting new water heater: Also read: Which is best gas water heater for homeowner/ things to consider 1) Check label on side of old tank Gallons and BTUs of old water heater. NG natural gas or LP propane gas > these are two different water heaters Measure height if necessary. Natural gas NG or Propane LP Propane water heater not recommended below grade (in basement) Propane gas is heavier than air, so gas leak hugs floor and can fill basement with explosive gas. Natural gas is lighter than air, and will rise. Odorant is added to gas. If you smell gas, leave house immediately and call gas company. How to replace TP valve 2) Check if TP needs to be specific height

Important if overflow tube goes through a wall or cannot be moved. TP overflow tube must drain downward, and cannot tip upward.

If arrestor screen becomes clogged with dust, the amount of air entering combustion chamber is reduced, and this slows draft going up vent pipe, which causes slow draft, vent odors, sooting, possible danger from incomplete gas combustion, and eventually causes combustion chamber to overheat, which trips FV lockout system. Repairs required. Keeping arrestor screen is important, so choose water heater with screen located on bottom of tank where it is easier to inspect and clean.

Install electric insted? Note: any ordinary electric water heater can be installed in mobile home when circuit breaker box can support rated wattage. 4500 watt electric water heater = 10 gauge wire and 240volt 30 amp breaker Replace elements with smaller wattage 3800 watt electric water heater = 12 gauge wire and 240volt 20 amp breaker

Should you select 6 year 9 year 12 year? Only difference is anode rod diameter, or sometimes 2 anode rods. You can convert 6 year tank into 12 year or 15 year by inspecting anode each 1-3 years, and maintaining tank as shown in product manual. How to Replace-anode-rod.htmlExtended warrantySome stores offer extended warranty. Do not buy extended warranty unless it also includes labor.

Always turn off water heater when painting or working with fuels Make sure water heater has adequate air supply. Avoid dusty atmospheres and exposure to clorox and pool chemicals. Clean air intake yearly and clean combustion parts frequently to avoid ECO shutdown caused by overheating.

Most residential water heaters are .58 to .62 EF means there is not much difference in yearly cost Read more Chart "Energy Factor indicates combined thermal efficiency and standby efficiency of a water heater." Energy star gas water heaters 2012 You can reduce greenhouse gas with higher energy factor > BUT< if water heater has elaborate design, then repair costs outstrip savings. All costs are energy. Estimated annual cost of running gas water heater/ pdf

Check that water heater is NG natural gas or LP propane gas > these are two different water heaters Do not install LP gas water heater below grade (basement) since gas leak will fill basement with explosive gas. NG is fine for basement since NG natural gas leak is lighter than air and will rise, so basement will not fill with gas Gas water heater should be set 18" above floor level. Adequate incoming air supply is needed. Do not install LP gas water heater below grade (in basement). Read water heater safety precautions before starting Water heater precautions/ pdf

1) Turn off waterNotice that shut off valve is located on COLD water pipe. Hot pipe must go to side of heater marked HOT, and cold to COLD or heater will not work. Disconnect water pipes from water heater. If you are unsure which pipe is hot, then run hot tap for a minute and feel which pipe on top of water heater is hot

Located water meter box, remove lid, dig away dirt to find shut off Shut off is located on house side of meter Use water key or pipe wrench

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How to install gas water heater

Hot Water Heater Installation and Repair Services Do you need to repair or replace your hot water heater?

Hot water heaters often last many years, but tend to lose efficiency with each passing year. How do you know if you need a new water heater? Check for the following signs:

This last issue is worthy of attention. Feel free to watch this brief video or continue reading the information below:

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating water is typically the third-highest energy expense in your home (clothes dryers and refrigerators use more). In recent years many improvements have made water heaters more efficient, and thus less expensive to operate. In addition there are innovative options like tankless water heaters and continuously-recirculating water systems that can further reduce your energy costs and water bills.

As a general rule, if you have an electric hot water heater, you can replace it with a gas heater and save 50% on energy costs, so for many people, thats a no-brainer. If you already have a gas heater, and its got some years on it, it may be operating at greatly reduced efficiency, thanks in part to the red clay (mud) that tends to flow into homes and businesses via local utility systems.

Tests have shown that a gas hot water heater more than 10 years old is probably operating at about 50 percent lower efficiency, so again a new model will bring significant savings. The experts with ER Plumbing can help you determine if it would be better to repair or replace your hot water heater, and what model would be right for your needs and budget.

If you need hot water heater repair, your solution may be as simple as sealing a water heater leak or replacing a burned out heating element. ER Plumbing will do it right the first time because:

If youre considering a new hot water heater, now is the time to look into tankless water heaters, the newest and most energy and space efficient of the water heaters on the market today. See our page on tankless water heaters for details.

Through many years of experience, ER Plumbing has come to believe that the following brands offer the best value for your dollar, and are the ones we recommend and install the most:

Todays efficient hot water heaters can be installed in your basement, crawl space, attic, closet or even outside your home (in the case of tankless water heaters). In the old days, gas water heaters were vented up the chimney, but now water heaters are so efficient that their exhaust often lacks enough waste heat to propel the exhaust up and out of a chimney. That means a direct vent through a basement wall or attic roof can be more efficient.

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Heating Contractor In Media PA - Media PA Heating Contractor - (610) 534-8771
http://www.CoolItHVAC.com - Heating Contractor In Media PA - Media PA Heating Contractor - If you #39;re looking for a top rated heating contractor in Media or Springfield, Pennsylvania Cool It...

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gas hot water heater installation | (312) 651-6984 | Chicago IL, Illinois |
gas hot water heater installation | (312) 651-6984 | Chicago IL, Illinois | Always get hot water without delay , have a nearby professional install your chosen water heating system . Take...

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How much should it cost to replace a hot water heater?

Here in Southern California we a very special agency called the South Coast Air Quality Management District. That agency attached a surcharge of $120 to the cost of a hot water heater, I think more in an attempt to support their own salaries than anything else (yet another hidden tax), and required the hot water heaters to burn cleaner, a good thing. The burners on the hot water heaters changed radically and now resemble overhead space heaters most commonly seen in warehouses and outdoor patios. There are no flames now and the heaters are much safer, another good thing. These two hits at once doubled the price of hot water heaters a couple of years ago. Most homeowners will receive sticker shock now when replacing that hot water heater that has been faithfully serving them for 10 to 12 years.

Beware of ultra-low price estimates over the phone, most are fraudulent and most companies giving these estimates deliberately leave off many items they charge for in order to mysteriously up the price of the installation due to unforeseen factors once they start the work in your home. It is called bait and switch and it is illegal. So how do they get away with it? There are so many licensed and unlicensed plumbers in the area that the authorities cannot possibly police the trade. If you live in Orange or Los Angeles counties there are at least 3,000 license plumbers within a 30 mile radius of your home. That is a lot. Bear in mind though that 1 out of every 5 plumbing companies in business today, will be out of business this time next year and only 1 in 20 will be in business in 20 years. Most plumbers are not business people, they are plumbers and unfortunately that means that the business will suffer. If your plumber isnt around when something goes wrong, you have no warranty, whether or not you were told you did at the time of the installation. Manufacturers warranties are fine, but they dont cover installation, handling charges, traveling time, delivery time and paperwork time. Most warranties after the first year are not worth the paper they are printed on. Be careful, use a company that has been around the block and has been in business for at least 10-15 years.

Every guarantee we give is written in plain English on every agreement. 10 years parts and labor means you don't pay one penny for any covered repair. Not one penny for distributor fees, not one penny for installation supplies, not one penny for permits, not one penny in handling fees, not one penny period.

Isn't that the the kind of guarantee everyone else is telling you, but not giving you?

No fine writing, no lawyer tricks, no B. S.

Water heater installations require a great many items that you would not normally think of. They need earthquake strapping and if your current strapping is not code approved, it must be replaced. Many heaters installed 10-12 years or more ago did not use proper strapping as most cities were just requiring the heaters to be strapped in some manner, rather than in a prescribed manner. There is now a set way to strap the heaters, strap width, strap thickness, bolt size, number of bolts and positioning.

Does the replacement make a dent in your budget? Dont worry, it has happened to us as well and we are here to help. We work with many finance companies and we will go to bat for you. Most of our clients are approved in less than 10 minutes and we can usually get you in warm safe waters for less than a dollar a day. You can have that new hot water heater for literally pennies a day. Call now 1.877.247.6426. We'll help with your gas hot water heater problems and your electric water heater problems.

Water heaters last here in most parts of Orange County, Los Angeles County and Riverside County between 10 and 12 years. That doesnt mean that your hot water heater will last that long or that your hot water heater will suddenly fall apart at the 10 year mark. The length of service of a hot water heater is directly tied into the quality of the heater tank, the aggressiveness or corrosion properties of the water, the temperature of the tank and the maintenance of the tank.

Somewhere along the line someone decided that you should wait until the hot water heater starts leaking before they should replace it. It caught on and now just about everyone waits until their hot water heater leaks and, in many circumstances, floods the home before deciding its time to invest in a new hot water source. Call now 1.877.247.6426. We'll help with your gas hot water heater problems and your electric water heater problems.

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Discount Home Water Heater Installation

home section Interior Design Housekeeping Entertaining Home Improvement Gardening & Plants Landscaping eHow Home & Garden Home Repair & Maintenance Plumbing How to Install a Tankless Water Heater

Murray Anderson

I learned home repair and maintenance hands on. Over the past 30 years I've built sheds, decks, fences and gates and planted numerous trees and shrubs. Inside I've done all the common jobs like repairing and installing toilets, plumbing and light fixtures plus I've transformed three basements from bare concrete floors and walls into warm , bright family rooms. I write on home maintenance and repair for DoItYourself.com and answer maintenance and repair questions online at MyHomeImprovement.com.

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Tankless water heaters (sometimes called on-demand water heaters or instantaneous water heaters) have been a staple in Europe and Asia for quite a few years, and they are now becoming more common in North America. Tankless heaters are electric or gas powered heaters that don't have a storage tank (like the vast majority of water heaters we are used to). Instead, the tankless heater has a water pressure sensor that recognizes when you turn on the hot water tap. Cold water flows through a grid in the heater where it is quickly heated and then flows to your tap. When you shut off the water, the heating element shuts down until the next time. Manufacturers claim you can get energy savings of 20 to 30% in homes using tankless heaters.

Tankless systems are available as single central systems (to essentially replace the hot water storage tank), or as smaller units that can be installed near where the hot water demand takes place (close to a washing machine for example).

Consider how your family uses hot water. A faucet typically uses .75 gallons per minute (gpm) while a washing machine or dishwasher uses approximately 2.0 gpm. If more than one of you showers at the same time or you wash clothes and dishes at the same time, you will need a tankless heater that can produce enough to keep up with your hot water demands.

Determine what you want the heater to do. Is it to serve as a supplemental heater for a single bathroom or as a total replacement for your existing storage tank system?

Understand how tankless water heaters are sized. The heaters are sized based on their ability to provide hot water at a given flow rate (gpm) plus the temperature increase they can produce. If your incoming water temperature is 50 degrees and you want your hot water to be 120 degrees, your system needs to be able to raise the temperature 70 degrees while maintaining your needed flow rate.

Manufacturer's recommend you have a qualified contractor install your water heater. The tankless systems require a lot of energy when they are operating and most existing homes are not capable of supporting them without modifications and upgrades to their electrical or gas systems.

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How to Install a Tankless Water Heater | eHow