This article has been viewed 7,548 times. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. • Where are gas water heaters not allowed to be installed? We recommend our users to update the browser. Direct-Vent Water Heaters . It’s best left to a professional. And call your local building department and ask if you need a plumbing permit to do the work. Now that everything’s connected, fill the tank with water and turn on a faucet in a nearby room to see if the heater turns on. Remove any remaining unions with a pipe wrench or tubing cutter. They work by sending a huge amount of air in with the flue gases that it decreases the temperature of the exhaust going through the … Different electric heaters have very different wire configurations and colorations, so to prevent damage to your heater's circuitry and to prevent electrocuting yourself, consider calling an electrician or electrical inspector to check your work or connect the wires for you. Press the pipe onto the connector fitting and tighten the compression nut. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. The use of certified heat tapes can help to reduce the frequency of these fires. Clean the pipes beforehand with steel wool if you want to reduce the amount of buildup in the water heater, but it is not required as there is only a little bit of deposit that could get into the heater from copper tubing. We explain the piping for a basic water heater installation compared with options for connecting hot water heaters in parallel, in series, or ganged. Power-vented water heaters work the same as ordinary water heaters, but the exhaust gases are blown out with a small fan instead of rising upwards through metal pipes. You may notice the sound of the fan. Reduce high electric bills by replacing an electric water heater with a natural gas or propane heater, then reduce installation costs by installing a power-vented model that can be easily vented out a sidewall. x 1-1/2 in. Water line installation. Water heater piping installation & connections: Here we describe the plumbing connections and piping options for hot water system hook-ups. x 4-in. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Natural gas or propane hot water heaters are generally less expensive to operate than electric heaters, but installing a standard vent in a house without an existing chimney is expensive. For more tips, including how to set up an electric water heater, read on! wikiHow's. Since this method doesn’t rely on the natural buoyancy of hot air, the vent pipes don’t have to go upward. In addition, … Installing a water heater is not as hard as it seems — it's simply a matter of soldering pipes, aligning connections, and securing valves to the heater. Further, the fan dilutes the exhaust with cooler air so you can run the vents with easy-to-assemble PVC pipe. Use teflon tape on the connecting portion of the valve if it doesn't quite fit into the heater. Close the cold and hot water faucet. If the heater's wires don't reach the wires that connect to your home grid, then mount a metal electrical box on a nearby wall and run the old wires and heater wires to the box using an armored cable. They can go out horizontally, which usually makes them much easier to install. The water heater must have a nearby electrical outlet for powering the fan. Remove any remaining unions with a pipe wrench, tubing cutter, or screwdriver. Once the PVC pipe is in place, and you have determined it is the appropriate length, install pipe hangers to support the pipe. Whether you need to install a new gas or electric water heater, the process can take a few hours and requires some basic tools and construction supplies, but before you know it you'll be enjoying a fresh heated water supply in your home. Coat the inside of the fitting and the end of the pipe with cement using the supplied cement brush. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine. Turning on hot water throughout the home activates the heater, even if the pilot light is not on, so you are able to check the pipes for leaks much more easily. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. It is best to pre-drill the holes into the draft hood so you can align the vent shaft with the draft hood easily. Hold the pipe and fitting together for 30 seconds as … Leave enough surrounding room for the radiant heat system equipment. This type of venting system is different from what you see on most gas water heaters. If your area has particularly hard water or if your city requires it, attach a plastic lining "nipple" to the top of the intake valve to further regulate the water quality. Measure the distance from the hot and cold supply lines to the water heater to choose the correct length connector. Open all the faucets in the house and run the water in shower or bathtub until it flows steadily from them with the right water temperature. Switch off the electric supply to the heater at the circuit breaker. Gas water heater draft hoods come in different sizes, and if you are replacing water heater, make sure, that the draft hood and the water heater vent pipe match each other. The hot exhaust gases from a natural-draft water heater rise through an open draft diverter and out through a metal duct. Next, solder female threaded copper pipe fittings to short lengths of copper tubing and set them aside to cool. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Place the heater on a lifting trolley or forklift, place it in your truck, and bring it to the proper disposal facility. If there is a steady flow, this means that the tank is full. Be sure to coat the threads with pipe thread sealant or wrap with Teflon tape. Consider hiring a removal service if you lack the ability to carry it yourself. You have to make sure you have adequate “make-up” air to replace the air being blown out. Last Updated: September 28, 2020 Power venting is an especially good solution for more energy efficient, tightly built homes, where a good natural draft is difficult to establish. You can do it! Follow the recommendations for the distances from hanger to hanger. Insert the end of the pipe into the fitting as you turn the pipe 1/4 turn. Because of their compact size, many tankless water heaters can be installed in a garage, attic, basement or utility closet without sacrificing floor space. Union couplings or flexible pipe for connecting pipes should be installed to reduce the force applied to the piping. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Attach a hose to the drainage pipe and let the water flow into a drain. In contrast, a power-vented type relies on a fan to blow the exhaust gases out. You have to provide a standard electrical receptacle near the unit to supply power for the fan. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. By using our site, you agree to our. They can go for an electrical model because it does not need any variety of venting. It's essential that the water heater does not make contact with the ground, even while you are setting it up, as it could alter the integrity of the heater's exterior, damage low pipes, and make the heater less effective overall. Hold the hose to the pipe (allow for a little slack) and mark and cut the pipe. The water exiting the unit will be extremely hot. The Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA) recommends, “that on gas water heaters there should be at least 6 inches of clearance between the exhaust flue and any CPVC piping. You can find power-vented water heaters wherever water heaters are sold; almost every major water heater manufacturer makes them. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It’s easier to run the vent if you install a “power-vented” type of natural gas (or propane) water heater. The blower cools the air so the vent can be run in PVC pipe (rather than metal, as is required with atmospheric venting) and is easy to assemble. Close the glue container as soon as you are done. Power-vented water heaters cost more than natural-draft heaters, but if you don’t have an existing chimney, installation will be less. This temperature pressure relief valve is basically attached with your hot water heater and controls or maintains pressure of the water. You should be familiar with plumbing, gas piping and wiring, and may need to have the project inspected. Turn on the main shutoff and open all line valves. If you don't see one, consult the manufacturer's guide. This eases the strain on the joints that could lead to possible leakage. Running one of these vents is complicated and may be expensive. Use a pipe wrench to get the temperature and pressure relief valve fully tightened. https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/plumbing/tips-on-removing-and-replacing-a-water-heater, https://www.hot-water-heaters-reviews.com/removing-the-old-water-heater.html, https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/water-heater/replacing-a-water-heater/view-all/, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-replace-water-heater, https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a173/electric-hot-water-heater/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. For more tips, including how to set up an electric water heater, read on! We need to put the new water tank in place being sure that the hot and cold water sides are properly lined up with the plumbing as it was before. How to Convert From PVC to Copper Fittings for a Hot Water Heater. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Install-a-Water-Heater-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Install-a-Water-Heater-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Install-a-Water-Heater-Step-1.jpg\/aid5729181-v4-728px-Install-a-Water-Heater-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"