There’s nothing worse than stepping into your shower, expecting a flow of hot water, but receiving water that won’t even get moderately warm instead. If you have ever experienced this, you might know that it is likely due to a malfunctioning water heater.
A traditional water heater works to accomplish this by heating water within the tank via a gas burner and then channeling the hot water throughout your home. A tankless water heater works similarly, but instead of using a tank, a heat exchanger is used. If you suspect that your water heater needs to be replaced, you should first determine what type of model you will need.
This is just one of the steps that you need to follow if you want to know how to install a water heater. Consider the following steps, too, for a better understanding of everything you need to know for easier installation.
Water Heater Selection
When it comes to determining whether you need a regular water heater or a tankless one, it can be difficult to know the difference right off the bat. There are pros and cons to each option, but many homeowners are opting for tankless models because of their energy efficiency.
A traditional water heater preheats 30-75 gallons of water and continually reheats that water in the tank. Tankless heaters, conversely, work on-demand and provide endless hot water.
Drain the Water Tank
Traditional water heaters are still more common than their tankless counterparts, and draining the tank is the first step to replacing one. To do this, you can take a garden hose and connect it to the drain valve.
It is important to exercise extreme caution as you do this, as the water will be dangerously hot. Once the water has been drained from the water heater, you can proceed with disconnecting the utilities attached to the tank.
Water Heater Disconnect Utilities
When you research how to replace a water heater, you are likely to find a range of suggestions, but it is important not to forget the basic safety principles that you must follow. One of the most vital of these is being cautious when dealing with gas lines connected to the heater.
After you drain the tank, you should disconnect both the water and gas lines connected to it. Of course, you should temporarily turn off both of these utilities before doing so. To disconnect the water, remove the vent pipe, and use a tube cutter to cut the hot and cold water lines. Disconnect the gas by unscrewing the pipe from the control valve.
Position New Water Heater
Once the tank is drained and the utilities are disconnected, you are ready to place the new water heater where the old one was. Use caution when handling the old heater because its exterior may still be hot to the touch.
Once it is safe to handle the old water heater, remove it from the area and place the new one in its spot. Be sure to position it carefully so that the valves and drains are accessible to the lines that will be connected to it.
Complete Installation
With the new water heater in its place and ready to go, you can complete the installation and restore hot water to your home. To do this, you will need to reconnect the utilities that you disconnected from the old water heater. However, you must first attach the new relief valve and pipe assemblies.
A relief valve can be connected with Teflon tape, and a pipe assembly can be installed with soldering. After this, you can reconnect the water and gas lines to the tank and connect the vent to the tank.
Consider Your Options
Installing a new water heater can be hard work. Unless you are well-versed in plumbing and home improvement, you are likely to have your work cut out for you, so it may be a better investment to have a professional come in and tackle the job instead.
A plumber in Phoenix can install a new water heater and ensure that the installation is completed safely, efficiently and effectively. A professional can also ensure that you select the right model for your home—traditional or tankless. There are enough things to worry about without the stress of figuring out how to replace your water heater.
Consider calling a professional Phoenix plumber such as Day & Night Air for all of your water heater maintenance, repair, and replacement needs. Enlisting help from a professional is the best way to ensure the job gets done right the first time so that your home and family have the hot water you need.
