Tips on Replacing Your Water Heater

Posted by Mary Spark on November 6th, 2019

Your water heater might not be the first thing on your mind this fall, but it’s a huge deal when you get in the shower in the morning, only to find that the long, hot shower you wanted for so long isn’t hot. Water heater failure is one of the most frustrating things, especially if you live in an area where winters are really cold. Simple tasks like washing your hands make you think twice.

The average life span of a typical water heater, either it is a gas heater or an electric one, is about 8 to 12 years. Water heater installation can be a tricky task, the type of heater you choose can play a significant role in determining the difficulty here.

Make sure you examine the water heater already installed, to minimize any compatibility issues. Examine the sizes of different pipes and dimensions of the area where you have your previous heater installed. It’s better to have a person from the local home Centre come and inspect it for you if you’re planning to DIY. So that when he recommends your water heaters, they will be easy to install.

When buying a heater you should consider the most efficient heater that can handle your needs. Too big and it will waste a lot of energy, too small and your shower won’t be hot enough. Typically an average family with 4 members and 2 showers will use a unit with a volume of around 65 gallons. But consulting the experts at your home Centre is always a good idea.

Removing your previous unit

• Always start with cutting off power to your heater, turn off gas or switch of electrical supply.
• Your water heater might have really hot water inside, it’s recommended to wait a few minutes or turning all the hot water faucets on in the house until the water coming out of them is cold. Waiting is recommended as that will save water.
•  Turn off the water supply and drain the water out of the heater.
• Pipes are normally hard-plumbed, and disconnecting can be tricky, take special care and get someone to help you remove the heater as they can be quite heavy.

Installing a new unit

Installing is tougher than removing as it requires you to line pipes up, which can be really hard if your pipes are hard-plumbed (which they probably are). If after removing you’ve realized that it's not your cup of tea, hire a professional. There are a lot of businesses providing affordable water heater install to services out there.

• Place the heater in place and connect all the pipes. If the pipes are not aligning there are a few soft plumbing options available out there that are quite reliable, still hard plumbing is always the best option.
• Before connecting the power source, open all faucets and let the water drain so that there is no air in the plumbing, then connect gas or electricity.

Tips for the longevity of your water heater

• Draining your water heater once a year, it will remove any sediments in the heater and possibly increase its efficiency. The trick is to let it drain from the input instead of the output.
• Turn your water heater off if you’re going for a vacation. Most heaters come with a vacation option. Completely turning off a heater might freeze the water inside your heater and badly damage it.