Hot Water Heater Installation Tips

One of the most enjoyable comforts brought about by modern technology to our life is the invention of the water heater. There is nothing more comforting than a hot water bath or shower on a chilly fall morning to wake up a sleepy mind and body. Perhaps it helps clean your skin by removing excess oil and dirt. As a result of the benefits that it provides, people have found it worthy of spending their hard-earned money to have a water heater installed in their house by a water heater repair company.

Here are some tips to have an effective water heater installation if you someday need these services.

Choose the right water heater

If you are planning to install a new water heater, it is vital to choose one that meets your needs. Generally, hot water heaters can be either electric or gas-fueled. While gas water heater may have low operational cost as compared to an electric water heater, it will often vary by the area. Thus, it is necessary to check the ratings on the specific one you want to install before you purchase. Consider all the factors about your house to ensure you choose one that suits the available resource. For example, if your home is not equipped with gas service, it then means an electric water heater will be the only reasonable option.

Take correct measurements

One of the biggest mistakes you can do is purchasing a water heater without knowing the dimensions that will allow it to fit appropriately in your house. Therefore, start by checking the plumbing by measuring all dimensions of the water pipes that existed before to help you find a new heater that will fit correctly. If you are installing for the first time, consider the size, shape, and design of your building to allow proper installation. You may also need to buy some couplers to make the pipes fit correctly, depending on the age of your house.

Turn off utilities

Before you proceed with water heater installation, make sure you turn off all the utilities that are attached to the electric or gas unit. Once turned off, you can now go-ahead to drain the hot water tank and disconnect the old water pipe connection. You can simply hook up a hose to the outlet at the bottom of the tank to drain the water from the tank and then drain it outside or into the drain.

Follow procedural connection of water lines

If you are planning to install a new unit to replace the old one, you can do it with procedural steps. Once you have completely drained water from the old unit and successfully disconnected, then it is the right time to remove that old unit to give space for the new unit. The next step is to install any other fittings such as temperature and pressure relief valve just in case they are not initially installed. Next, use the owner’ s manual to connect water lines to make sure you don’t have any kind of leaks after filling the new tank.

Once all setting is in place, you can then connect your electric or gas line to the power source. But, if you are installing a gas line that uses fuel source, attach the flue vent to allow fumes to find its way out of the house. After that, be sure to fill the water with cold water and turn on the new unit only after making all the connections properly.

So, how do you know if you need a new water heater?

Well! If you are unsure, it is time to install a new water heater; it may be a wise thing to consider the following scenarios:

  • When your old water heater has a higher risk of malfunctioning
  • When your water heater is contaminated and proves serious health hazard
  • When moving into a new home and in need of proper heating that meets your needs
  • When your convectional water tank is causing you repeated trouble

While it is possible to install a new unit of hot water heater on your own, hiring a plumbing professional is often the best way to save you time and money in the long run unless you are experienced in plumbing and plumbing repairs. Fortunately, a professional plumber can provide you with a service that will guarantee you a perfect water heater in your home.