I've installed a new hot water heater (gas) and have opened a hot water faucet close to the vicinity and now

Question

have opened the cold water valve to fill the tank. I do not hear any running water ...like it is filling up. Also, I'm not getting any hot water or cold water out of my inside faucet in the bathroom closest to the new hot water tank. What might be going on? My water is turned on to the whole house. In fact I'm getting a strong cold water pressure in the kitchen....it's just my bathroom closest to the hot water tank that I'm not getting anything at all. Any help for a confused installer??

Answer 1

You won't necessarily hear it filling. A pipe runs from the cold in down to the bottom of the tank, with a bend at the end. So the water is swirling around the bottom of the tank, not cascading down from the top.

When replacing a water heater, crack all the hot water faucets open before turning on the supply valve to the heater. This is necessary to purge the air in both the tank and the water lines. Close each faucet when it stops sputtering and starts delivering a steady stream of water.

If you're getting water from the hot water taps everywhere except the one bathroom, I'd suspect you've got the supply valves turned off under the sink. You could also have an air block, but once all the other taps in the house are purged, it should clear. Could also be crud from the old heater has clogged the valves or aerator screen on that one sink. But I'd expect at least a trickle if it was crud in the line.

If you're not getting water from any of the hot taps, you've probably got a bad supply valve into the water heater. Most home older than about 10 years have gate valves, and these commonly fail when they sit unused for years and years. Open the drain valve on the side of the heater tank to confirm whether or not there's water in the tank. If it's really empty, you've got a bad supply valve and you'll have to replace it (water off to the house, sweat off the valve, and sweat on a new one). Replace it with ball valve - the kind with lever that turns a 1/4 turn. These are much more reliable, and easier to operate.

Answer 2

Many times installation of a water heater causes debris to flow out the lines to a faucet that is turned on. I recommend during filling of a new water heater that you turn a tub valve on. Tub valves don't have aerators on the end of the spout that will catch the debris and get clogged. The symptom would be little or no hot or cold water from that faucet. So, I am guessing that you ran this faucet shortly after the install and the aerator got clogged. Twist off the aerator and clean it or replace it.

Answer 3

I'm not sure, but is there a valve at the water heater that you failed to turn on, the water heater will have to fill up before any water will run out of the hot water side, then it will be awhile before the heater can heat the fresh water in the tank before you will get hot water, i would not light the heater until i knew there was water in it, when you connected the heater, you should have only made 2 connections and either you turned your water off at the source or with valves at the heater itself

Answer 4

How do you open the air value at the top of the heater to drain. It looks as thought you should pull it out or twist it but maybe I would break it and ruin everything. Everything is done, but it won't draw the water out and I have turned on all the hot water faucets to get the air going...................?????

Answer 5

Open the drain valve to the water heater if no water is present and all supply lines are open than you may not have removed the protective plugs prior to the install you will need to remove them on bolth sides in and out.

Answer 6

There are backflow preventer discs that go in the hot water line. If they are put in backwards, then the water won't flow. I say unhook the incoming water line to the hot water heater and take a look.

Answer 7

did you remove the protective plugs from your water heater inlet and outlet pipes before you connected them?