A Simple Method In Replacing Water Heater

From removing your old heater to installing a new one, this guide offers step-by-step instructions for water heater replacement of your gas or electric-storage type water heater.

Out With the Old

1. You first need to turn off your gas or electricity that routes through the heating system:

• If removing a gas heater, verify if its pilot light is out before disconnecting and capping off the lines.
• Continuing for gas heaters, separate the vent pipe from draft hood. You may need to extract a sheet metal screw, should the hood be screwed into place.
• For an electric heater, take off the plate covering the wires entry. It is recommended to use a tester or voltmeter to confirm there are no live circuits. Remember to first test a known-good outlet to ensure an accurate read.
• Continuing for electric heaters, once you have confirmed all connected wires are dead, remove electrical panel’s plate covering, unscrew wire nuts, and disconnect all wires, pulling them out of the heater. If there is a conduit attached, remove that at this time as well.

2. Then drain the storage tank completely:

• Attach a garden hose to the drain valve, placing its other end in a designated discharge area. Keep in mind its discharge will be hot, so keep clear of pets and children.
• Turn off cold water inlet feeding in and open a hot water tap, allowing air to enter and water to drain out.
• Open the drain valve and allow all hot water to discharge through the attached garden hose. Ensure discharging spout of the hose is lower than the tank base for proper drainage.
• Once the tank is completely drained, detach the garden hose.

3. Almost there! Now disconnect piping from heater:

• If threaded fittings known as unions are the connectors, use a pair of pipe wrenches to remove them.
• If piping is soldered into place, they will require to be cut away by use of a pipe or tubing cutter or hacksaw. Be sure to make the cut as close as possible or, if using copper flex connectors for your new heater, at most appropriate placing for such.

4. Finally, extract the old water heater to be disposed of properly:

• Research local services that may be available to assist with proper disposal or recycling of old heaters.

And in With The New!

1. Position your new heater so that It will easily hook up to water piping and/or gas vent piping.

2. If installing a new gas heater, affix the draft hood, as needed.

• It is common for many draft hoods to insert by pegs into openings on top of the heater.

3. Continuing for gas heaters, connect the vent piping with short sheet metal screws.

4. Now to connect the hot and cold water lines:

• If your new heater used unions like your old one, feel free to reconnect the new as needed using a pair of pipe wrenches once more.
• The easiest method, however, is to use copper flex-connectors, which are easily bent to reach where needed.
• If you had to cut The surrounding piping, the copper flex-connectors may be soldered to the severed pipes to complete the inlet and outlet connections. The inlet should be attached to the cold water shut off valve.

5. Configure the new heater’s temperature and pressure relief valve and line:

• This relief system automatically regulates temperature and pressure so the water does not get too hot and the gas does not become too pressurised.
• Run a pipe from the relief valve to a safe discharge location, typically within 6-inches of the floor. Again, the discharge may be hot, so keep clear of others.

6. With the plumbing connected, now close the heater’s drain valve and open the cold water inlet, filling the storage tank.

• Opening a hot water tap releases any air trapped in the top of the tank, ensuring the tank fills as it needs.

7. After you have verified there are no leaks, reconnect your gas or electric lines.

• Consult the manufacturer’s documentation that came with your new heater and carefully follow the provided instructions for your first-time use.

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