The effort put into water heater installation pays off when we get hot water from a tap, especially on a cold, freezing day. Nothing less than a true blessing; it can convert into a disguise if the water heater is not fit in the right way. This brings us to the importance of installing the heater system correctly and why you should spend time reading about it.
Even if you are calling professionals for the installation, you should read this article so that you can check and verify if everything is done right or not. As a homeowner, if you have a bit of expertise, you might be able to install the heater yourself.
Nevertheless, if it’s the first time installing a water heater at a place, you must seek help from experienced professionals because it involves a lot of other things as well.
Rest aside, if you are going for a replacement option, water heater installation is easy and can be done quickly with a handful of tools and equipment.
There can be any reason for installing a new water heater system. For example, if the existing heater is not heating up enough, leaking, making noise, or when it causes any other problem, there will be situations where repairing won’t work. In that case, replacement seems to be the only reliable solution.
Moreover, if your water heater is too old to be able to meet your requirement, you need to consider changing it for the better. Do check out the water heater cost section if you are worried about budgeting in any case.
How to install a water heater?
Before we move forward, note that the water heater can be electric, gas, or any other type. Each type may have a different set of requirements, but the basic procedure remains the same. For that, let’s follow the steps accordingly.
First, you have to make sure you have all the supplies ready that are required to complete the job. Check out this list of items you’ll need.
- Adjustable wrench
- Safety gloves
- Pipe cutter
- Tape measure
- Soldering torch
- Water and gas piping
- Fittings, connectors, and pressure valves
These are the basic things you need in addition to the water heater. Continue with the process if you have all of these components available to you.
Other than that, consider the water pressure you need, the expansion tank, and other water heater parts required for the task.
Studying the water heater diagram will be of great help if you are carrying out the steps yourself.
Let’s begin with the steps if you are ready.
Installing a gas water heater
The step varies a bit for the gas and the electric type of water heater, so we are going to look into both.
- The first step includes turning off the gas supply and as well as the water lines connected with the water heater.
- Drain off water from the existing heater tank.
- Unscrew the pipes, valves, and nuts so that the old heater can be removed.
- Then you have to attach the relieve valve, water lines, and pipes.
- For the gas water heater, venting must be done for safety.
- Attach the gas lines and check for any leakages.
- You can now turn on the heater.
Installing an electric water heater
For setting up the electrical heater, the steps are almost similar except for the fact that here you are going to deal with electric wires.
So, before you start, disconnect the power supply and then follow the same steps as for the gas heater. Besides, be careful when connecting the electrical wires. When you aren’t familiar with electricity, consider hiring an electrician to help you.
Tips for water heater installation
Water heater installation is an easy process for people who are experienced but for newbies; it seems like a complicated process. However, there are a couple of instructions that can assist you as you complete the steps.
Likewise, the following tips are also going to help you understand the mistakes you should avoid. So, let’s get straight into it.
- Before installing a heater unit, you must analyze the hot water requirement for your family and then choose the appropriate water heater.
- Water heaters are among the foremost contributors to increasing your utility bills. So, do consider energy-efficient water heaters for your homes.
- Each water heater is made differently, and therefore, you may need to apply a different installation strategy. Don’t forget to check out the instruction manual that comes with the package.
- Always put in the water heater where it is accessible so that any maintenance or repair work can be done easily.
- If you are stuck during the installation phase, call in an expert for help.
Conclusion
Water heater installation is easy only when it’s done right. If you are unaware of the process, you may have a difficult time.
Having the right tools, equipment, and a bit of knowledge of the water heater components can help you achieve the objective without any problems. However, if you get stuck somewhere, calling an expert is not a bad idea.