Water Heaters - A Guide to Installation

Most water heaters today are electric. This makes them simpler to understand and install. The water goes in one side and is heated and is ready to leave from the other side when you are ready. Sounds simple, don't you think? The process is a little more complicated than it sounds but it still does not require a master electrician or plumber to accomplish this task.

Placing a new water tank will require following the manufacturer's instructions so your warranty will be valid. In the area you are planning to locate the water tank place some blocks. About three of the concrete type will do. The next step is to place the water tank on the blocks. You will want to place the drain to the front for easier accessibility.

Here are the materials you will need to get your water tank in working order:

* ¾ inch copper tubing
* fittings
* propane torch
* tubing cutter
* steel wool
* wire brush
* lead-free solder
* soldering flux

The items you will need to use are all available at either your local hardware store or many chain retail home stores have them as well. The first thing to do is cut a piece of tubing about eight inches long. This will be for routing the cold water into the water tank. Cut this with your tubing cutter; not a saw.

After the cut is made, clean the end of the pipe with steel wool. This should be a shiny copper color when the piece is clean. The next step is to put soldering flux on the part you have just cleaned and lay this to the side.

Make sure the inside of the pipe is cleaned as well by inserting the wire brush into the pipe and turning. Spread flux on the inside as well. Now you can slide the fitting over the tubing.

Heat the joint with the propane torch, keeping the flame about ¾ inches long. The end of the flame should be touching the top of the joint. Heat until the flux melts and you can no longer see it. One spot on the joint is fine; the heat will spread to the whole piece of pipe.

When the flux is gone, put just a little solder on the top of the pipe you have put together. The solder should melt. If it does not, reheat and try again. When it does begin to melt push it into the joint you have put together until it is full.

The shutoff valve is next. Flux this valve for the side the cold water is on and put it over the tubing. Solder this into place. Either use a gate valve or a ball valve. The temperature and pressure relief valve is essential. This is used to allow the tank to have a release if pressure builds inside the tank. This must be rated the same as your water tank.

You will need to measure the distance between the bottom of the valve and the floor after threading in the valve. Subtract four inches from this and cut the tubing to this length. The valve should be coated with Teflon tape and put it back into the tank. Solder the male adapter to the tubing. Cover this with Teflon tape and thread the drain securely by using a wrench. Your water tank is ready to connect to electricity.