soldering pipes, aligning connections, and securing valves are all things you can do to install a water heater.Before you know it, you'll be enjoying a fresh heated water supply in your home, the process of installing a new gas or electric water heater can take a few hours and requires some basic tools and construction supplies, but it's worth it.
Step 1: Turn off the valves on the old water heater and drain the water.
Remove the pipes, turn off the valves, and drain the water if you're replacing an old hot water heater.Turn off the cold water valve at the top of the heater to remove an old one.The pilot light will go out if the electric supply is turned off and the gas valve is switched off.Attach a hose to the drainage pipe.The vent shaft is at the top of the heater.Use a pipe wrench or tubing cutter to remove unions.If you want to dispose of the heater, place it in your truck, then put it on a lifting trolley or forklift.If you can't carry it yourself, consider hiring a removal service.
Step 2: Align the new heaters with the pipes by placing them on top of blocks.
If you want to minimize the risk of the heater falling, use cinder blocks or concrete blocks that are the same size as each other.It's best to align it with the water and gas pipes as you can change it later on if it isn't perfect.It's important that the water heater doesn't make contact with the ground, even while you are setting it up, as it could alter the integrity of the heaters exterior, damage low pipes, and make it less effective overall.
Step 3: Attach a relief valve.
The temperature and pressure relief valve looks like a faucet with a small hose-like pipe coming out of the bottom.Attach it to the temperature and pressure relief hole, which looks like a large circle with an input slot, and apply teflon tape if necessary to prevent leaking.To get the temperature and pressure relief valve fully tightened, use a pipe wrench.To keep the lines clean, opt for a copper version of the relief valve.
Step 4: There is a water intake on top of the heater.
Using 6 in (15 cm) copper pipes, solder a new adapter to one open end of a pipe to make it fit into the water intake on top of the heater.To secure the connection, use a pipe wrench.There should be red and blue rings around the hot water output and cold water intake.Attach a plastic lining to the top of the intake valve to regulate the water quality if your area has hard water.
Step 5: Attach the water lines to the top of the cooker.
The water pipes from the ceiling or wall should be aligned with the copper pipes on top of the intake valve.Then, solder the pipes together.Attach elbow joints to the water heater's copper pipes if they don't line up.
Step 6: The vent shaft should be over the hood.
Attach the draft hood to the heater with 4 in (1.9 cm) screws.The vent needs to be at least 1 foot high before it bends.Pre-drilling the holes into the draft hood will allow you to align the vent shaft with the hood easily.
Step 7: The gas line should be connected to the gas valve.
Attach the ends of the steel pipe with pipe joint compound and screw in the gas valve.Next, connect it to the gas supply.If you want to reduce the stress on the gas valve, you need to use two tools: one to steady the valve and the other to turn it.Plastic coverings can be used to secure the gas valve and gas intake.
Step 8: Turn on the faucet to check for leaks in the new tank.
Leave the cold water valve open when you turn on the water.If you want the room to be hot, turn on the faucet in a nearby room.To make sure there are no leaks, look at every joint on the heater.If you smell gas, turn off the gas valve and then solder the connection.You could cause gas in the air if you don't wait.It is possible to fix water and gas leaks by soldering the pipes.Turn off the valves and try again.Even if the pilot light is not on, you can check the pipes for leaks by turning on the hot water.
Step 9: The pilot light should be set to 120 F (49C) by following the instructions.
After you have checked for leaks and made sure your connections are secure, light the pilot light of the heater and set the temperature to 120 F.The location and method of lighting the pilot light can be found in the manufacturer's guide.The pilot light is usually located at the bottom of the heater behind the panel, but you should check the instructions that came with it to make sure.
Step 10: After turning off the electricity and draining the water, remove the old electric heaters.
You need to cut the pipes away, turn off the electricity, and drain the water if you have an old heater that is being replaced.Turn off the cold water valve at the top of the heater to remove the old one.The electric supply should be turned off at the circuit breaker.Attach a hose to the drainage pipe.Use a pipe wrench, tubing cutter, or screwdriver to remove unions.If you want to dispose of the heater, place it in your truck, then put it on a lifting trolley or forklift.If you can't bring it yourself, consider hiring a removal service.
Step 11: Put the new electric heater on concrete blocks to test its stability.
After placing it on a few blocks to keep it off the ground, rock it back and forth to make sure the blocks don't shift.To reduce the risk of the heater falling, place the blocks perfectly aligned with each other and at the same height.If the blocks move, put the tank in a different position.The best place to keep the drain valve is in the front.
Step 12: The copper pipes were sold to the water company.
Check to see if the end of the copper pipes fits over the water intake valves on the heater.If the pipe doesn't fit over the valves intake, attach an accessory.If the copper pipes are heated before you solder them, the solder should be activated quickly.At your local hardware store, you can find copper tubing, tubing adapters, pipe and a soldering iron.You don't need to clean the pipes with steel wool if you want to reduce the amount of build up in the water heater.
Step 13: The water pipes coming from the ceiling need to be aligned with the water intake pipes.
Align the copper pipes you soldered onto the top of the heater to the water pipes coming from the ceiling or wall.To prevent leaks and create a connection, solder these pipes together.Elbow joints are needed to get the pipes to connect correctly if they don't line up.
Step 14: Attach a new valve to the appliance.
To make sure the numbers are the same, check the American National Standard Institute.A length of copper tube that reaches down from the relief valve should be cut.To solder the copper tube onto the valve's opening, use a pipe wrench.The new temperature and pressure relief valve should be attached by a large circular opening near the bottom of the heater.You should consult the manufacturer's guide if you don't see one.Teflon tape should be used on the connecting portion of the valve.The opening should point towards the ground.
Step 15: The electric wires must be connected to the grid.
Attach the grounded wire to the green grounded screw.To figure out the correct configuration for the rest of the wires, follow the instructions that came with your heater.It's important to call an electrician or electrical inspector if you're doing work on your electric heaters because they have very different wire configurations and colors.If the wires that connect to your home grid don't reach the heater's wires, then mount a metal electrical box on a nearby wall and run the old wires to the box using an armored cable.
Step 16: Before you turn on the electricity, check for leaks in the heater.
Turn on the water valve and check the pipes in the house for leaks.If there is a leak, solder the offending areas back together with a garden hose.Close the drain valve before filling it with water.If you don't turn on the electricity until you are sure there are no leaks in the heater, you could destroy the electrical components and have to replace them.
Step 17: To set the electric connection to 120 F, turn on the connection.
The main panel should be turned on and the temperature set to no more than 120 F.If you want to find out where the temperature control is on your device, you need to consult your user guide.Setting the temperature too high will cause the water to be too hot for use and can cause a mess in the pipes.