Hot Water Heater Installation

[HaRuMaN]

As some of you may (or may not) remember, I had a leak in my hot water heater which I temporarily fixed with some JB-Weld.  I'm going to be going on vacation around Christmas, so rather than chance a new leak and a flood when I return from vacation, I am going to replace the water heater this weekend.

I am taking out the old table-top style Hotpoint water heater and replacing it with a Kenmore table-top style water heater.

Has anyone done this kind of job before?  What exactly am I going to need before I start.  I hate starting on a project and having to stop to run to the hardware store to get some part or tool.  Any help would be appreciated.    Any plumbers out there?

[whammoed]

depends on how it is hooked up and what kind of pipe you have.  copper, pvc, galvanized?  Some are hooked up with flexible connections others the pipes are soldered/sweated together.  Can you post a pic?

[HaRuMaN]

I'm at school right now, so I can't post a pic at the moment.  I do remember looking at how the old one is connected.  It has copper pipes, and it looked like the pipe from the heater was connected to the pipe from the house my some kind of threaded connection.  I'll draw a lil sketch...

[danny_galaga]

i feel for all you guys that have to pay for hot water! where i live its so hot that my solar hot water system keeps things toasty even though the back-up electric part of it hasn't worked for years

[whammoed]

I'm at school right now, so I can't post a pic at the moment.

[HaRuMaN]

I'm at school right now, so I can't post a pic at the moment.  I do remember looking at how the old one is connected.  It has copper pipes, and it looked like the pipe from the heater was connected to the pipe from the house my some kind of threaded connection.  I'll draw a lil sketch...

sorry, sketch isn't cutting it for me...maybe somebody else
if not, post a pic when you get home and I will be able to tell you what to get to hook it up.

Will do... 

[DrewKaree]

Your threads will require either teflon tape or plumber's dope.  I dunno which type you have, but those are the two things you'll prolly need.

If you have fittings you have to re-do, then you'll need copper flux and a propane torch.

I'm guessing your tank is electric, but I didn't see if you said so anywhere.  If your water heater is gas, you'll DEFNINITELY need teflon tape to wrap the threads of the gas connector.

You'll also want a crescent wrench/channel locks/pipe wrench depending on what you can lay your hands on.

[Zakk]

Take care, that connection looks a lot like a fuel line (gas or oil).  The only threaded connections like that around here are either gas lines or old galvanized pipe (and they haven't used that for years.  Oh and Drew is a bit off on this one, if it's a gas connection, you should probably get a professional, and it's definitely not teflon you should use on it, it's gas fitter's grease (also known as dope) .  Teflon is good for threaded water connections tho...

Post that pic and let us all get a look at it. 

[Mameotron]

The easiest way to tell if you have a gas or electric water heater is to look for the exhaust pipe sticking out of the top.

[DrewKaree]

Actually, I didn't specify which type of gas, so you're both half right and I'm half of whatever's left over 

The galvanized pipe Zakk is talking about will be more than likely black (I can't ever recall seeing it in another color) and depending on the age of your house, it MAY be used.  My parents' house still uses it in places, but it's not for drinking supply, just outside lines.  We'll be replacing it in spring if it doesn't burst first 

[Zakk]

Zakk, Drew is right.

[DrewKaree]

Hey Zakk, can you find out from your buddy what he thinks pipe dope should look like?

The stuff I'm used to seeing is kinda like a play-do consistency.

If that's what your buddy describes it as, I'd like to be sure.

The reason I ask is the link you provide shows teflon paste (which they call pipe dope) and looks exactly like what my pipes look like after wrapping the threads with teflon tape.

I have a feeling your buddy is thinking pipe dope of the same kind I am.  I'd just like to be sure, is all. 

[Zakk]

Hmm, dope was a word I had in my head, he never used the term, he said compound, and said it was a thin paste that worked into the threads.  He sent me that link to show me what he was talking about.  (Grease like?)  Now mind you, he never said that it didn't contain teflon, he was just specific in that they never use the tape. 
 
 I still think I would call an expert when it comes to gas.   

[DrewKaree]

Sorry, you set me up so well, it would be CRIMINAL for me not to take the opportunity 

I have gas ALL the time.  That HAS to make me an expert.   


Back to important stuff.  Gotcha on the dope/paste thing.  That's all I wanted to know. 

No matter what is used, it's gotta have some teflon in it.  Otherwise the threads may become chemically locked together forever, and you DON'T wanna be using a saw on a connected line if you can possibly help it (the term KABLOOEY comes to mind )

Yeah, if it's gas, I'd call an expert.  My number is 414-54......sorry, couldn't resist one last bit 

[Zakk]

Ugh, with that mental image, I'll retire for the evening.  My condolences to your wife


 Oh, and you'd be proud of me, I went out and bought the HumVee of houses.  3000 square feet of energy wasting goodness.  Hot tub in minus 30 degree weather?  You bet I gots me one of those!   

[DrewKaree]

Ugh, with that mental image, I'll retire for the evening.  My condolences to your wife

Funny you mention retiring for the evening.  I got a "Darwin Awards" e-mail about a guy who had feasted on cabbage and beans, and the resulting methane cloud in his airtight bedroom while he slept did him in!

Although I'm fairly sure it's untrue, it still has enough believability to it to make ya think 

Oh, and you'd be proud of me, I went out and bought the HumVee of houses.  3000 square feet of energy wasting goodness.  Hot tub in minus 30 degree weather?  You bet I gots me one of those!   

Please tell me you have the International Pickup truck idling in the driveway 

How much of that Sq Ft is dedicated to your arcade, or did Mrs Zakk put the kibosh on that?

[HaRuMaN]

Lol...  I had forgot about this thread.

It's an electric water heater...  that line is definately a water line (turned the hot water on, felt the pipe, pipe started heating up).  It runs on 240 volts, has two heating elements, etc...

I'll be changing it out this Thursday (help couldn't come on the weekend).

[Zakk]

Please tell me you have the International Pickup truck idling in the driveway

[DrewKaree]

Haruman, I dunno your skills, but if that water supply pipe is not copper pipe, and if it's black in color like I mentioned before, I'd SERIOUSLY consider either paying a plumber or doing it yourself (again, I dunno your skills) and replacing any black pipe you have in your water supply.  You're simply asking for a rusty leak you won't realize until it's too late kinda headache further down the road.

IF it's black pipe (galvanized pipe).

If it's copper, no worries.

PVC would be better and an easier replacement.


Zakk, I haven't been to your site in a while, either that's a nice page or a sweet redesign of the site - in either case, sweet HumVee house!  I like the walk-out basement as well!

[Zakk]

Thanks!  I won't be worrying about flooding in this house, I just open the door and let the water out! 

[HaRuMaN]

Drew...  its copper pipe.    No worries.

[Zakk]

Don't let the Home Depot guys sell you on compression fittings then, only solder copper.  You'll save yourself a bit aof headache down the road.

[Mameotron]

Zakk, I'm sorry.

[DrewKaree]

Zakk, I'm sorry.  It looks like you are right.  I'll take the word of a gas company guy over the word of the teenagers that work at my Home Depot any day.

It's really sad, Home Depot used to be a great place to go for info as well as materials, but lately they have turned into a real circus.  With a brand new Lowe's now open and a Menard's under construction I'm hoping they shape up.

Sorry for the rant.  And I can't get that stupid Menard's commercial jingle out of my head now.

So true.  The only thing I could POSSIBLY add to your sensible comments are

More season's greetings to you all from Menards!

 

[HaRuMaN]

*mutters something abouth thread hijackers..."

Anyway, lol.     Finally got the new one in, wasn't too bad a job at all.  Hardest part was getting the old one out of there.  That sucker was heavy, I think the tank on it is cast iron.

What's funny is, I found an old service contract sticker on the backside of the heater.  The service contract expired in 1974!!!

That thing is older than me!@