An electric water heater is an elementary and useful device. The electric water heater installation is also not that difficult as you think, especially if you don’t hesitate to do some challenging work. Though installing a water heater requires you to do some plumbing and electrical work, but no worries! We will give you a step-by-step guide that will help you do the job without any professional assistance.
Yes, you can save some dollars and replace or install an electric water heater by yourself. It is a one-time installation job that lasts for years, so consider it a fun yet challenging ride.
Before everything else, before deciding on buying a brand new electric water heater, diagnose the problem with the existing one. Usually, the electric water heater lasts for eight to ten years if maintained properly. So, if your existing one has a leakage problem or any other regular one, you can solve it in a matter of time.
However, if you are determined to replace or install a new one, then you are in the right place. This article will take you through the complete installation process, which makes you a pro at the end.
Firstly, we advise you to gather all the necessary equipment beforehand to save yourself from riding to the market repeatedly.
Must-have installation tools
- Electric water heater flexible hose kit
- Gloves, a pencil, and a bucket
- Water heater drain pan
- Hand truck
- Pipe cutter
- Plumber tape and sandpaper cloth
- Voltage tester
After checking the availability of all the vital pieces of equipment, we recommend you ask yourself last time if you are ready for this task. It is a bit challenging task but not impossible. If you follow the steps guide, you’ll achieve the target.
Let’s dive into the process and get the job done.
How to install an electric water heater?
Below are the essential instructions for installing an electric water heater that you should follow diligently. Let’s look at the replacement process first.
Note: Water heaters are quite heavy, so make sure to have someone to handle and install the device.
Replacing an electric water heater
Suppose you’re removing your existing water heater and replacing it with a new. The process is a little different. Here are some critical steps to follow.
- Please turn off the electricity to our water heater, check the wiring with a voltage tester, and make sure the unit is off.
- Turn on the water supply line and turn the faucet on hot. Let the supply on until the water is cold. Then turn off the cold water supply pipe and connect a drain valve present on the heater’s bottom to the garden hose.
- Now open the drain valve carefully and empty the heater into buckets or let it drain.
- Once the tank is transparent, carefully remove the discharge pipe. Disconnect all the water supply lines, and if you decide to cut them, leave them long enough.
- In the end, use a hand truck to remove the old tank and replace it with the same process.
Installing the New electric water heater
- Setting the Tank
First, we recommend you to place your new water heater in a drain pan to avoid flooding. You can easily make its way to a drain from the drain pan.
- T&P Relief Valve
Usually, electric water heaters come with a pre-installed T&P valve. If you’re missing this, find it in a box and twist in the new valve. We advise you not to reuse the old one, and if it’s not present in the box, buy one immediately.
- Discharge pipe
Now install the discharge pipe from the T&P valve to the drain or floor. In case of no drain under the line, use buckets to catch dripping water.
- Hose attachments
For water hook-up, make use of the Electric water heater flexible hose kit. Now, find the heat trap nipples and apply plumbers tape on the threads and attach the hoses. Secure hose fitting, then hold it up to the pipe. Don’t worry about the slack; it usually happens. Now mark it with a pencil and cut the pipe accordingly.
- Fitting and connections
Finally, the pipe fitting phase comes. Slide the compression unit, push the pipe with force for fitting and then tight the nut. Besides, to make sure the right connections, fill up the tank and remove the aerator from any faucet. Now open the hot side and turn on the water supply line to check connections. There should be no leaks here, but if it happens accidentally, you should recheck the connections and tight a little more until they are secure and ready to go.
After secure connections and a full tank, let the water run for three minutes to clear the debris.
- Wirings
Remove junction box cover for the wiring stage. Find the ground wire and attach it to the ground screw. Twist all the wires altogether with the help of wire connectors. Finally, turn on the power, set the temperature to 120 degrees, and wait. After a few hours, you are all set to enjoy using hot water.
FAQs
- How much it costs to install an electric water heater?
It depends on the type of heater you got. The average installation cost varies from $1,000-$3,000. So, save thousands and install it by yourself with the help of this article.
- How long does it take to install a water heater?
It also depends on whether you are a pro or a beginner. If you are new to this, you should spend half a day on the installation. Although the process takes about two hours, settings and connection verifications can take a while.
Final Words
Everything demands effort, courage, and determination. Installing an electric water heater seems challenging at first, but anyone can do it without complications after learning a few steps. It is a simple, easy, and time-saving process if you know what you are up to. So, clear your mind with every question that comes into your mind and start a cycle.
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