Installing water heaters is not a big deal; however, some people find the entire process to be very complicated and frustrating. This is particularly true in older models that do not have a digital control display panel like the new models. If you are not very familiar with installing water heaters, it would be better to hire a professional to do it. However, if you are sure that you can handle the task on your own, you can follow these simple steps to install a new water heater. This article will help you understand the process and learn how to do it by yourself.
Before you start the whole task, turn off your main power supply. It would help if you did this because you do not want to burn down the room you are installing the heater in. In addition, it prevents the risk of electric shock to you and your family members as well. While you are at it, unplug any electrical appliances from the wall you are using for home heating purposes. Then, it’s time to disconnect the old water heater.
Once you have disconnected the old unit from its power source, you need to remove the old plumbing and dry fire fitting from the wall. You can do it easily by using a screwdriver. Then, it would help if you took out the old water heater tank and the pipes from the wall. To help you get the right place to install the new heater, you can use plumbing tape and a wrench.
After getting rid of all the cluttering materials, you need to decide whether you want to do the water heater installation by yourself or hire someone else to do it. It depends on your decision and your convenience. If you have the required experience in installing water heaters, you can do it on your own. On the other hand, if you are not familiar with plumbing, it would be better to get someone to help you install it. In fact, you can choose to install it by yourself. However, if you want to save some dollars and time, you should get the services of a plumber to do the job.
There are basically two types of water heaters, the tankless type and the tankless condenser type. The installation of tankless heaters is different from that of tankless condenser heaters. In tankless heaters, the water is heated inside the tank by using Freon. The tankless condenser usually has a coil on its outer surface. This coil heats the water before it enters the condenser. Tankless water heaters need a compressor, which is necessary to control the flow of the heated fluid.
Tankless water heaters need their own compressor to function. So if you decide to buy them from a big box retailer, you have to make sure that the one they are selling has a compressor with them. It will be more practical if you get a tankless heater replacement that already has a compressor with it. Otherwise, you might end up buying another compressor, and a big box retailer will end up spending more money on other things than on getting a tankless water heater replacement.
When installing water heaters, one of the most important things to remember is to ensure that the unit is installed according to specifications. Check the specifications on the appliance to know the things that you need to do. For instance, a radiant floor heat system requires a specific floor area. Make sure that the specifications are followed to avoid having problems and wasting energy. If the unit is not installed according to the specifications, the appliance might not work correctly, and you will end up wasting more energy.
On top of all these things, there are other things to consider when installing water heaters. Contact professionals at Water Heater Repair to learn the details. Energy efficiency is an important thing to consider when choosing the heater you want to purchase. And lastly, you need to check on the installation costs of the ancillary material cost since sometimes big-box retailers offer installation for free. Still, the materials will cost you more in the long run.