How easy is it to put in a electric water heater?

Question

We have a gas water heater and we would like to have an electric w.h. instead. How hard would it be to switch, and what do we need to do to change it over?

Answer 1

Its not too difficult...

You'll need to run a circuit to the new heater, from your panel box...so that means wire, and a circuit breaker. (it should be on a circuit by itself, straight from the panel box, not run from something else).

Plumbing wise, you'll just need some standard fittings/adapters to connect to your existing plumbing....for example, you may need to extend the plumbing (or cut it back) to match the connector on the water heater.

You'll also need a cap on the gas line.
(I'd just tape over the exhaust stack opening from the old heater with aluminum tape, or duct tape)

Have Fun

Answer 2

If you are going to change water heaters anyway, it is not very hard at all. The hardest part will be running the electrical wire.
If the 2 heaters are roughly the same size and the connecting pipes are flexible, that will be no problem at all. You will already have the gas turned off to remove the gas heater. You will only need to run the electrical wire to the heater location and connect it to the new heater.
If by chance your water pipes are not flexible, you will need to purchase flexible copper pipes to connect the new heater to the existing pipes.
You will also want to stop up the exhaust flue from the old heater so yo won't lose heat and air through that pipe.
Could I suggest that you look into a "Marathon" water heater by Rheem. They are plastic and therefore will not rust, well insulated and very efficient. It costs a little more but for us it has been worth it in electrical savings. We have a 4 bedroom 3 bath home and a 50 gallon hot water Marathon heater and have never had a hot water problem in our 4 years in this house. We have a teenage daughter at home, a teenage grandson that almost lives here, lots of their friends here much of the time, 2 small grandchildren that are here most of the time and 3 grown children that spend almost as much time here as at their own homes.

Answer 3

You want an electric water heater? Stick with the gas, Lovebugg, they are more efficient and recover faster than electric,(after you've taken your nice HOT bath), besides you'd have to run an electric supply to the new tank, which aint cheap.

Answer 4

You'll need a new water heater. You can't change them enless you actually change the water heater itself from a gas burning to an electric burning hot water heater.

Answer 5

First why would you want to, gas is less exspensive and recovers more quickly
But if you really want to, the plumbing is the same, instead of connecting to the gas line you need to run 10 gauge wire to you breaker box and install a 220V gang 30 amp breaker set and connect the wire. This assumes you have room in your breaker box