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Installing a new Hot Water Heater..? Any advice..

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by TTU19, Jul 12, 2019.

  1. Jul 12, 2019 at 6:28 AM
    #1
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    So my hot water heater has started leaking and will be buying a new one today. Installing it seems pretty straight forward, but does anyone who has done this before have any advice or tips for me? Ha. I'll post a photo of what the top looks like. BTW, it's electric that plugs into the wall.

    Thanks..!
     
  2. Jul 12, 2019 at 6:29 AM
    #2
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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  3. Jul 12, 2019 at 6:37 AM
    #3
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Look at a hybrid. I bought a GeoSpring ten years ago, and it's still saving me money every day. I've had to change a control board, but otherwise no problems. Expensive up front, but the old one failed within a year of buying the place, and the required home buyer insurance covered the cost of a conventional electric, plus I got Obama's energy credit (both done).
     
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  4. Jul 12, 2019 at 6:47 AM
    #4
    TokerJoker

    TokerJoker ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

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    None.....yet
    Drain it 1st:thumbsup::hattip:
     
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  5. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:01 AM
    #5
    Rockanock

    Rockanock 21 Chevy 2500

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    Drain it first like mentioned above. Also Take pictures of how everything is connected so you have a reference to go back and look at. They are fairly straight forward. Get a dolly to wheel it out of the house so you don’t hurt yourself. Good thing you noticed it leaking instead of coming home to it being burst. This reminds me to go look at mine every now and then. Good luck!
     
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  6. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:04 AM
    #6
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    Yeah, we noticed a little bit of a smell and wondered what it could be. Got to looking around and noticed it had leaked. Lucky I caught it because the home builder didn't put a pan under it to hold water in case of a leak, so there was a little on the floor and could have got into the walls. Talk about an even bigger problem, ha. But yeah, I'll drain it and I've seen where you turn on the hot water in the furthest away sink to drain the line. Have a dolly and my father in law is going to help cause we have to lift it, it's up on a little stand for some reason. Thanks..!
     
  7. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:09 AM
    #7
    TRDFerguson

    TRDFerguson SSEM #99/RGBA #8-ish?/It’s a funny name.

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    We just went through this, builder didn’t put a pan under the water heater in 2003 and ended up causing about $2000 in water damage. I put a new pan down with drain line when I installed the new one. It looks like your supply lines are in good shape, but just check them for corrosion and replace as needed. Also, make sure the new WH is the same height and input/output config so everything lines up.
     
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  8. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:14 AM
    #8
    Sas

    Sas Humor is everywhere

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    Just a couple of maintenance notes, drain it once a year to empty out any sediment in it and keep in mind that the sacrificial anode rod will need replacing at some point, if it has one.
     
  9. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:18 AM
    #9
    Moon Puppy

    Moon Puppy I'm not new!

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    I've done them before, make sure joints are good and clean before soldering. Last one went out is our lowboy that's installed under the house, I called Da Man for that one, too old and fat to crawl under the house.
     
  10. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:22 AM
    #10
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    Doesn't look like this one takes any soldering at all. Everything just looks like normal screw on.
     
  11. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:24 AM
    #11
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    Everything should be good, house is only 6 years old, so it's practically brand new. Never really thought about the pan under it before, but now that we have this, it makes you wonder what they where thinking in not putting one. O'well, luckily it didn't cause anything crazy yet and can get it replaced before it does. From what I can tell, everything is just about exactly the same. Same height, same water lines, etc.
     
    TRDFerguson[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:37 AM
    #12
    SnrDisregardo

    SnrDisregardo New Member

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    I wussed out and called a guy. $1100 installed I don't think is too bad. I know enough to get myself in trouble, plus it would be an all day project for me.
     
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  13. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:39 AM
    #13
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    Yeah that's about what I was told for someone to do it. No Thanks, ha. *Crosses fingers that I can get it done*
     
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  14. Jul 12, 2019 at 7:43 AM
    #14
    markg

    markg New Member

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    Don't turn it on until it is full.
     
  15. Jul 12, 2019 at 8:46 AM
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    Moon Puppy

    Moon Puppy I'm not new!

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    That's about what we paid and it was under the freakin' house. Who puts this stuff under the house? I didn't even entertain the idea of relocating it. $$$$$
     
  16. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:09 AM
    #16
    SnrDisregardo

    SnrDisregardo New Member

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    Mine is easy enough to get to, but the plumbing is a mess since we took out the water softener and IDK what to do with that extra pony keg thing hang off the pipes. I'd have to cut the copper so high to clean it up that I'm not comfortable with doing it.
     
  17. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:10 AM
    #17
    bsktball55

    bsktball55 New Member

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    I did mine this winter. I have pex pipe in my house so I just used the shark bite fittings. Like was said earlier, look at a hybrid model. When I bought mine, a regular electric ran about $400, the hybrid was $1300, but our electric company had a $500 rebate on it so it brought the price down to $800. Our electric bill dropped by $20-30 a month so our payoff is going to be less than 2 years and that is with just my wife and I taking showers. If you have a larger family, the payoff will be faster. Plus it has a 10 year warranty instead of the 5 that the others had. I did have to add a little bit to my water lines because the fittings are on the side instead of the top, but from start to finish it took less than an hour to put it in.
     
    TTU19[OP] likes this.
  18. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:12 AM
    #18
    bsktball55

    bsktball55 New Member

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    That pony keg is a pressure tank. It keeps your pipes from banging. Some places require it, I don't have one on mine and don't have any issues, but it depends on how your plumbing is set up.
     
  19. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:13 AM
    #19
    fisherman951

    fisherman951 MT dreams

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    Not hard at all. Once’s it’s drained they aren’t too heavy. Being electric easier then gas as u have no worries of it leaking gas. U might already know this but they have a little brass valve I guess u call it that makes all the water drain completely. I made the mistake of not opening it and was wondering why the hell water wasn’t coming out anymore but it was still full lol
     
  20. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:15 AM
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    bsktball55

    bsktball55 New Member

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    Also when you turn the water back on, make sure you have your faucets turned on so that the air can escape, otherwise, you'll end up with pressure in the lines and it won't fill up properly.
     
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  21. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:17 AM
    #21
    Prostar 190

    Prostar 190 SSEM #9 I would rather be water skiing

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    Take out the cheap factory drain and install a ball valve. Then when you want to drain it you will thank me.
     
  22. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:26 AM
    #22
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    From what I've read, here is basically the steps:

    -Turn off water to the tank
    -Turn off breaker to tank, unplug from wall
    -Turn on hot water at furthest sink from tank
    -Drain water from bottom of the tank.
    -Disconnect hoses and remove old tank

    -Place new tank, connect back hot and cold lines
    -Connect center pressure line and run to the side of the tank.
    -Turn water back on to fill tank
    -Turn on water at the sinks in the house to clear air in lines
    -Plug back into the wall, turn breaker back on

    Anything I'm missing?
     
  23. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:28 AM
    #23
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    You talking about this drain part?

    6F6B3745-70C0-489F-AD19-B83CC8ACF171.jpg
     
  24. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:29 AM
    #24
    Prostar 190

    Prostar 190 SSEM #9 I would rather be water skiing

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    Yes Sir.
     
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  25. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:32 AM
    #25
    TTU19

    TTU19 [OP] Wreck 'Em

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    So does that brass fitting just unscrew and you put in a pipe and then a ball valve? Humm... And I assume it's all 3/4 probably, huh?
     
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  26. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:37 AM
    #26
    Prostar 190

    Prostar 190 SSEM #9 I would rather be water skiing

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    Yes they just unscrew it. You can buy a ball valve with a stem on it already just put some pipe dope or Teflon tape on it before installing it. The ball valve will always seal up after you drain it. I open my drain once a month for about 30-60 seconds to drain any sediment that could be in there out.
     
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  27. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:38 AM
    #27
    Prostar 190

    Prostar 190 SSEM #9 I would rather be water skiing

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    Usually those drains in the bottom are cheap plastic and break or are a gate valve and won't seal backup after you open it.
     
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  28. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:39 AM
    #28
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    So, why the hell do you need a "HOT" water heater? Never heard of heating up hot water.
    :notsure:





























    Sorry, I had to be that guy. Carry on.:thumbsup:
     
  29. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:47 AM
    #29
    bsktball55

    bsktball55 New Member

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    Looks about right to me.
     
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  30. Jul 12, 2019 at 9:51 AM
    #30
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    1st I've ever seen, what's the blue tank?
     

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