Water Heater Installation Steps and Regulations

As you wait for the shower to heat up, you lazily draw circles in the frost on the bathroom window. It's cold outside. Winter has arrived and you are eagerly anticipating your hot morning shower. Splashing your hand under the faucet, you realize the water is still cold and it has been running for several minutes. Oh no! Could this mean that it is broken? Do you need a new one? How can you save money on a fast and easy water heater installation? There are a number of steps involved in water heater installation and it is important to keep each of these in mind if you are considering trying to save a few bucks by doing it yourself.

One of the first things that you have to do with any water heater installation job is verify local building codes and county ordinances that regulate inspections and the delivery of permits in your area. You want to ensure that you have met all requirements in order to remove the existing unit and replace it with a new one along your city's required guidelines. One of the things to keep in mind with these guidelines is the amount of space you need. While it may seem nice to replace your existing unit with one that is bigger and better, it practically is not possible because of the requirements for clearance above and around the unit. The last thing to do before purchasing a new unit is to determine the type of plumbing connections you have and ensure the new one matches.

The steps involved in actually replacing the unit are complicated and involve everything from shutting off the water supply to draining the old unit to disconnecting all pipes and physical removal of the old unit. From there bringing the new unit in may seem easy, but you still have to install the pressure relief valves and reconnect the lines and electrical wiring.

It is important to keep all of these factors in mind if you are thinking about saving money and doing the job yourself. In the end, it is usually going to cost less time and money and headache by hiring a professional that has experience and expertise in this area. This is not a job you want to cut corners on or do incorrectly. After all is said and done, you may be spending more on fixing the errors you created than what it would have cost to hire a professional in the first place. Think twice before doing any job yourself.