Is it easy to take out and install a new water heater.?

Question

My old water heater is leaking water from somewhere. It is a slow leak but puddles the water up. Is there anything that I should know before install it?

Answer 1

It sounds like it is an old unit that needs to be replaced..To answer your question....No...but only if you know what you are doing becasue you are doing 2 different trades..Plumbing and Electric/Gas...If you do it correctly then all is good but if not you are going to pay out the...You know what...a lot of damage can be done....If you think you can do it...think about it again...You better know what you are doing...Not hooking it up electrically can burn the unit up...not filling it before you turn it on will burn out an element....for what it is worth, this is a time when it may be better for you to hire a plumber to install it for you...Home Depot & Lowes sell units and if you buy it there give you a break on having it installed by a professional...So if something goes wrong the person installing it is responsable for the damage...If you damage it or anything else you pay and you lose the warrenty...So is it really worth trying to install something you THINK you can do or paying the price and having it done right...

Answer 2

I've done this 4 times now. It is not too hard to do, but you need to be aware of the code for a proper installation. You will need to do some plumbing to fit the new heater in place as most likely it will be a different height than what you remove.

You also need ot be creful on how you hook up the exhaust vent pipe. Doing this wrong could lead to CO poisioning and DEATH. You need to make sure a proper slope is maintained on the installation of the new exhaust pipe.

Finally, if your hooking up an electric heater, normal electricall safety rules apply. If it is a gas heater, you need ot be careful to ensure you have a leak free installation. Leaking gas lines can lead to your home blowing up. A very bad idea. In my opinion, (and many state codes forbid it) using a flex line is a bad idea. I prefer to hard pipe the gas line in with black iron pipe and fittings. This will be durable and the most safe. Do ensure you leave a drip leg just before the gas valve.

Astrobuf

Answer 3

The fact that you can't pinpoint the leak says something of your plumbing skills (nothing personal, just an observation). Some states/counties/cities require special permits to install water heaters because of the potential hazard they pose should they not be put in correctly. Are you going to install a gas or electric unit? Both require some basic plumbing skills and a working knowledge of current building codes to insure proper installation.

Don't get me wrong, I encourage DIYers. But with water heaters there's a huge amount of liability involved should it be installed incorrectly (gas in particular). If you can legally install it yourself without any special inspections or permits, your best bet is to get proper tooling (pipe wrenches, pipe cutters, propane torch, etc.) needed for the job and a detailed guide or book.

Good luck.

Answer 4

The way you ask the question I would suggest you go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a water heater from them and, let them install it for you. You'll have a guarantee and warrant on it and won't have to worry. It's not a everyday thing, to install a water heater, the best have problems and, do you have all the necessary tools?

Answer 5

Soddering the new pipes can be tricky. You need a mapp gas kit, not a regular torch. Clean the pipes really well with steel wool before beginning to sodder.

Good luck.

Answer 6

All the other considerations aside, those suckers aren't exactly light. Are you prepared to pick it up and move it?

Answer 7

ya if u know what u doing it does not take a rocket scientist