How to Install or Replace a Gas Water Heater?

There is nothing worse than a water heater failure. No hot water means no clean dishes or clothes - and no hot showers. If you're having trouble with your water heater, it may be time to replace it. You can save some cash by replacing the equipment yourself.

Replacing a gas water heater requires identifying the type of water heater you have, choosing a new one and removing the old unit. You need to know how to connect the water and gas lines to the new heater and be able to light the pilot light.

If you're ready for all of this, read on.

If cost is your primary concern, it may actually be more affordable to have a professional help you - but if you're confident in your abilities, you can certainly take care of the gas water heater installation yourself.

According to Consumer Reports, 90% of water heater replacements occur when an older water heater fails. If you don't know how to install a gas water heater, you don't want to learn while running water everywhere. It may also be unsafe to do it yourself without any relevant experience or knowledge.

If you're completely unsure what to do, it's much safer to entrust the installation to a professional. This is not a DIY project you can afford; gas leaks pose a serious risk to your home and the environment. If you connect the waterline incorrectly, you may experience leaks.

Safety is the number one priority when working with gas lines. Make sure to completely cut off the air and water sources while working to avoid accidents and injuries. Make sure there are no leaks before using the new system. We don't recommend trying to install your own water heater if you don't understand all of these safety requirements.

This step-by-step guide will demonstrate how to install the most popular type of water heater, the gas model with a storage tank.

The best way is to measure the unit you currently own and then buy a new water heater based on those measurements. Make sure the new water heater complies with any local codes or ordinances so you don't install it just to know you need to remove it because it's not compliant.

Shut off the water supply to the entire house at the water mains shutoff valve. Turn the water control valve to the closed position on the device itself as well. Then, use the faucet in your home to drain as much hot water from the system as possible. Keep the faucet open when removing the old unit.

Connect the hose to the drain valve and drain the tank. You can connect a hose to an area outside your home, or pour water into a bucket or down the drain in your home that leads to the sewer. This process may take a few minutes or more, but it is important to make sure the tank is completely drained before you proceed.

If the lines are soldered together, a pipe cutter is required for this step. Your water should already be off, so turn off the gas to your water heater first. If you don't see a shutoff valve on the heater, you must shut off the main supply to the house. Sanding the pipe before disconnecting it may make it easier when new pipes need to be welded. Remove the gas line but leave the tank tee and sediment trap as they are.

These will connect to your new device. You will need to remove the old water heater from the exhaust, but leave the exhaust hood in place. Removing the water heater can be a hassle because it can be heavy. Before moving anything, you should make sure you know how and where to deal with it. Call your local waste management service for more information on what to do with your old water heater.

Make sure you have enough work space. Place new equipment at least 6 inches away from any wall or space for proper ventilation. Put the new unit in place and use a spirit level to make sure it lies flat.

Follow the reverse order of removal: hook the flue cap to the exhaust port, then install the heat trap fitting and water pipe connection. If you don't install these properly, your water flow won't work and hot water won't be sent to your plumbing. Follow the arrows on the lines to make sure you're feeding them in the correct direction.

If you used a pipe cutter on the gas line during disassembly, you will need to weld the pipe to reconnect. Reconnect the waterline. Then you need to reinstall the relief valve. At this point you will have to connect the gas line and test it to make sure there are no leaks. Run soapy water anywhere gas may leak and look for air bubbles.

Finally, turn on the water heater and turn the water back on. Make sure to turn off the faucet you have turned on before this step.

A professional plumber can usually complete the installation within two hours. Since a water heater with a tank is so heavy, a plumber may bring a colleague to help remove it.

You may not be able to move the device yourself. If you're inexperienced, the process can take you hours - or even a full day - as you'll spend a lot of time making sure you know where everything needs to go. If you are planning to replace your gas water heater with a new one, please contact us.

Greaidea is a professional custom gas water heater manufacturer. Our gas water heater factory is located in Shunde, Foshan City. In our R&D department, 12 engineers are employed to guarantee our R&D advantage and innovation advantage. The test room and assembly line have been upgraded. Spend 3% of revenue on research and development each year. With an excellent manufacturing team and quality control team, we have achieved an annual output of 500,000 gas water heaters with the best quality.