Water Heater Installation requires plumbing, electrical and heating/ventilation skills, as well as state and local building codes knowledge. A professional installer ensures proper connections and minimizes leak risk, saving you repair costs. Contact Hot Water Now for professional help.
Before you can remove the old heater, attach a garden hose to the drain valve and open it to drain the tank. This is done to prevent damage from galvanic corrosion caused by mixing metals.
A storage-type water heater is a simple appliance. Unheated water enters at one side and hot water exits on demand at the other. This is done by the electrical resistance elements located within the tank. To provide access to these elements, the manufacturer includes an electrical covering plate (usually a flange) that must be removed before hooking up to your home’s existing electrical supply. After removing this cover, you can connect like colored wires to each other using wire connectors and lead the incoming power’s ground wire to the green ground screw beneath it.
Before starting the installation, read the printed installation instructions and any safety warnings that came with the water heater. Doing so minimizes the chance of property damage or injury.
If you’re installing a gas-powered water heater, have a qualified plumber set up your propane and natural gas line connections. Doing this work is typically more expensive than simply rerouting water lines to the new location of your water heater, but doing so ensures that your water heater will be safely connected to the gas and water supply lines.
For an electric hot water heater, you’ll need to install a 240-volt circuit and a 30-amp breaker. This circuit will also require a separate GFCI protection device. It’s best to have a professional do the wiring for you, since not following correct procedures increases the risk of fire and electric shock.
The water heater will need a drain valve, which is usually located near the bottom. You’ll also need a shut-off valve, which is located outside the tank. The valves should be positioned so that you can easily access them for maintenance.
If your home’s plumbing pipes are made of copper, consider having a plumber replace the fittings on the cold water and hot water supply lines with plastic ones that match your pipe type. The use of these fittings will reduce the risk of corrosion, and they’ll help keep your hot water temperature consistent. If you have copper, consider insulating your water pipes. This can make your water heater more energy efficient and save you money in the long run.
Installing the Intake Valve
If you’re a homeowner who is installing a water heater, a new gas water heater installation will require that the plumbing and electrical connections be properly done. This is a job best left to professional plumbers who can save you the frustration, inconvenience and potential damages that can occur if you do this project on your own. Water heater installation involves working with hot, steamy and often dangerous water and electricity so make sure you know what you’re doing before trying it yourself.
First, shut off the power to the water heater by locating the gas valve at the bottom of the unit and turning it to the off position. Then disconnect the electric cable that runs to it from your home’s service panel. Locate the wire nuts that connect this wire to your home’s power wires and unscrew them. Locate the wire nut that connects the appliance service wire to your home’s electrical system and remove it as well. Then use wire caps to cover each of these exposed screw terminals to prevent electrical shock.
Next, install the new temperature and pressure relief valve (if your water heater didn’t come with one already installed). Make sure that the replacement is rated the same as the original or higher — see the manufacturer’s guide for details. Then cut a length of copper tube that reaches down from the valve about 3-4 in (7.6-10.2 cm) and solder it to the opening on the valve.
Also install the discharge line for your new water heater, following the instructions on its printed owner’s manual. This is an important safety feature that can help prevent serious injury or death if there’s a problem with your water heater.
Make sure the discharge pipe is terminated within 6 in (15 cm) of a floor drain to prevent discharge water from contacting people or objects and potentially causing fires. Also consider insulating the water pipes in your home, especially if they are located in a cold location where freezing temperatures are likely to occur. This can improve energy efficiency and may save you money on utility bills.
Installing the Expansion Tank
As we mentioned in the previous step, a water heater expansion tank is an effective way to keep your system safe from bursts caused by excessive pressure. Installing one is a moderately difficult DIY project that novices should leave to professionals, but experienced homeowners should be able to complete the work in an afternoon or less. Before beginning the project, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure a successful installation.
Start by turning off the power and gas supply to your water heater. This will minimize the risk of electrical accidents and gas leaks while you’re working on the project. You’ll also want to drain the water heater to remove any excess hot water from the system.
Once the water heater is empty, you’ll be able to start working on installing the expansion tank. First, install a tee fitting in your cold-water supply pipe above the water heater and a short length of copper pipe. You can use sweat-soldering or plastic fittings with push-fit connections to make these connections. If you choose to sweat-solder, make sure your torch is set to a medium heat setting to avoid melting the pipes or fittings.
Next, connect the tee fitting and short length of pipe to an adapter on the water heater’s dielectric union. Wrap several loops of pipe-sealing tape around the threads of the adapter to prevent any leaks. Then, screw the fitting into place. Be careful not to over-tighten the fitting; tighter isn’t always better with plumbing work.
The tee fitting and short length of copper pipe will then connect to the top outlet on your water heater’s expansion tank. The top of the expansion tank has a valve that opens when water enters it to push out pressurized air. This allows the water inside the expansion tank to expand without causing any damage or bursts in the pipes underneath. As more water flows into the tank, it will continue to release pressurized air until the temperature and pressure relief (T&P) valves on the water heater are unable to withstand the consistent pressure. Having an expansion tank installed reduces the strain on these valves, which can help extend their lives.
Installing the Electrical Connections
When it comes to electric water heater installation, you’ll need to make a few electrical connections. First, make sure that the circuit breaker for the tank is turned off before you begin working. It’s also a good idea to shut off the water supply to the hot water heater at the nearest shutoff valve.
Next, remove the cover plate from the junction box on the side of the water heater. Once you’ve done that, it should be relatively easy to locate the incoming power wires. They should be labeled L1 and L2. You’ll need to attach these wires to their respective terminals on the new water heater, and you’ll need to use insulated cable connectors. Before you do so, though, it’s a good idea to use a voltage tester to ensure that the circuit is indeed dead.
You’ll also need to install a new ground wire. This is important because it helps to ensure that any potential corrosion in the metal water pipes isn’t causing an electrical short circuit. You’ll need to use a green-colored grounding wire for this purpose.
The final step is to connect the hot and cold water supply lines. This is a simple matter of connecting two 3/4″ NPT threaded fittings to the “C” (cold) and “H” (hot) supply lines on the new water heater. Then, you’ll need to tighten the fittings. It’s a good idea to wrap the water line connections in Teflon tape before you do so.
It’s a good idea to consult the manufacturer’s wiring diagram for your particular water heater, as this will help you avoid possible wiring mistakes. You should also familiarize yourself with the electrical terminology and symbols that are used. This will help you recognize what each component in the diagram represents, and it can also save you time when troubleshooting future problems.
Most homeowners can perform basic plumbing and electrical work on their own, but it’s always a good idea to hire a professional when it comes to complicated projects like this one. It’s very easy to make mistakes that could end up costing you a lot of money, so it’s best to leave these jobs to the experts.