![]() There are two basic types of water heaters: the traditional kind with a storage tank and tankless water heaters, which heat water as needed. Traditional Water Heater: $300-$3,500+, Installed How Much Does Replacing a Water Heater Cost? Date the water heater by writing the month and year it was installed on the side.2023 Cost of Replacing a Water Heater - Estimates and Prices PaidĬostHelper > Home and Garden > Plumbing & Waterproofing > Replacing a Water Heater.Set the water heater to the desired temperature. Turn the gas back on and check for leaks.Install an overflow pipe on the side of the water heater using thread tape and water pump pliers.Mix concrete and use a trowel to patch the hole around the flue to ensure gas cannot make its way back into the home. Install the new flue using self-tapping screws and a screw gun. If necessary, chip away the chimney using the cold chisel and a hammer.Turn the water on and let it fill the tank. Reinstall the vacuum valve in the top of the fitting attached to the water heater. Solder the new pipes to the existing water pipes using a gas torch, flux, and lead-free solder.Be sure to tighten them firmly to prevent leaks. Apply gas-safe pipe dope to the gas pipes and reinstall them using pipe wrenches.Install the copper piping to the top of the water heater using a pair of water pump pliers to tighten the pipes in place. Apply pipe thread tape to the pipes sticking out of the top of the water heater, running the tape in a clockwise direction.Mark the new flue’s location on the chimney with a pencil. Make sure it’s level by placing a level on top of the heater and using shims underneath. Carefully place the new water heater in its location.Remove the copper pipe stubs from the top of the water heater and the gas pipe trim from the bottom at the electronic control. Use a pipe wrench to remove the trim from the old water heater.Remove the old water heater from its location. Some concrete may break, but this will be repaired when the new flue is installed. Remove the flue pipe from the top of the water heater and the chimney.Repeat on the other copper pipe, as well. ![]() Tighten the tubing cutter onto the pipe and turn it until the pipe cuts, tightening every few revolutions. Use the sanding cloth to clean up the pipes before placing the tubing cutter on the pipe. Choose two spots on the existing copper pipes to cut, making sure to cut them high enough for the new tank if it’s larger.Using a screwdriver, open the drain by turning the stem counterclockwise and let the tank drain. Run the hose to a floor drain if there is one, or attach it to a pump. Attach a garden hose to the drain at the bottom of the old water heater.Once the valve is shut, use a pair of water pump pliers to break the union fitting below the gas valve and disconnect the pipes. This line should be perpendicular to the pipe to ensure that the gas is off. Most gas valves will have a line that displays the position of the valve. It should be within a few inches from the top of the water heater. Note: Tank-type water heaters, particularly those of the gas-fired variety, should be replaced by licensed pipefitters, and they should secure permits for the project. With a 16-year-old water heater lurking in the basement, the homeowner is expecting it to fail at any moment, so Richard suggests they swap it out with a new unit. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey takes us on a house call to relieve a homeowner’s stress.
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