Water Heater Installation

Water heater installation can be a tricky task to accomplish, and you can encounter many water heater problems if you make a misstep or forget one of the important steps of the installation process. Below you will find the basic steps required for water heater installation.

Please note that the information below is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice; you should call an authorized service and have them install your new water heater for both safety purposes and for not compromising the warranty of the heater.

Assuming that you already have an old water heater installed which will be replaced with the new one, the obvious first step of the installation process is to remove the old heater.

Water Heater Installation: Removing the Old Water Heater

You may have one of the two main types of water heater installed in your home, and in order to install the new water heater, you will have to disconnect and remove the old heater. Regardless of the type – be it an electric water heater or a gas water heater – the very first thing you have to do is to make sure that the power to the heater is cut off from the main switch located inside the main electrical panel in your home. If the heater has a clearly marked, dedicated switch inside the panel, turn that switch off. Even if you are sure that the switch is labeled correctly, make sure to check that the power is cut off with a circuit tester. An improperly marked switch may cause a fatal electrical discharge.

This first step will be enough for electric heaters as you will have cut off the energy source used to heat the water. However, if you are using a gas water heater, you will also have to turn the gas supply pipes off. When you do so, make sure to check for any gas smells, and immediately call the gas company if you hear a gas smell after shutting the pipes off.

Once you make sure that there is no electricity or gas going into the heater and that the heater’s circuits do not contain any current, the next step will be to empty the water inside the tank. The first step you need to take here is to open your hot water tap to run the hot water until it’s cooled, then turn off the cold water supply valve of the heater, place a hose on the drain valve and empty the tank by opening the drain valve. Once the tank is emptied and all the water is drained to a bucket or any other suitable place (like your garden), you can then remove the remaining electrical devices like the pressure relief valve and remove your old heater.

Gas and Electric Water Heater Installation Videos

Once your old heater is removed and the new heater is ready to be installed, you will have to take similar steps you took while you were removing the old one, but of course with the reversed order. Instead of explaining new water heater installation process in written, we have preferred to include the following videos that may help you better understand the general installation procedure.

Gas Water Heater

Electric Water Heater

As we have specified in the beginning of this page, please do not attempt to remove or install water heaters yourself if you are not well experienced in such operations; calling the service will save you a lot of effort, headaches and any problems with your water heater.