Mistakes of DIY Water Heater Installation

​These days, a growing number of homeowners are learning how to do home renovation work themselves rather than hiring a professional due to the abundance of information available online. The do-it-yourself method has advantages, too, such cost savings. But occasionally, skimping on quality can end up costing you more. 

Only people with the necessary training and equipment, like a qualified plumber, should try many plumbing tasks, including installing a tank water heater. When installing a water heater on their own, homeowners frequently make mistakes. These include selecting the incorrect tank size, placing the unit in the wrong place, using the wrong materials, disregarding building standards, and more. 

Avoid these blunders when installing your water heater in a tank.

Negative outcomes may ensue from installing a water heater without the necessary experience and expertise. For instance, it's critical to route the plumbing in a specific way, prevent combining metals, utilize high-quality soldering procedures, and select the appropriate type (and size) of pipes. Any error could result in a system failure, violate the equipment's warranty, or impair the water heater's functionality and efficiency. 

6. Failing to get a permission or adhere to codes

1. Selecting the incorrect size

Even before it heats up the first gallon of water, your new water heater can be doomed to fail. There are 30 to 80 gallon tank water heaters available. The number of people living in your home and the amount of hot water used will determine the size you need. You will frequently run out of hot water if you get a water heater that is too small. On the other hand, by repeatedly heating water you don't need, a too large tank will cost you money each month on your energy costs. 

2. Placing it in a hazardous area

​The location of your water heater is crucial for efficiency, convenience, and safety. Storage closets, attics, and subfloors are examples of places where installing a tank water heater may be restricted or forbidden, depending on your local rules. Since newer versions are wider and better insulated than earlier models, you cannot assume that the same position would work if you are replacing an old water heater. A qualified plumber will check that your water heater has enough space for airflow and appropriate access. 

3. Failure to place a drain pan beneath the tank

​It is advised—or mandated—that a tank water heater have a drain pan underneath it to catch any water leaks or discharges. The drain pan needs to be at least 1.5 inches tall and 2 inches broad, larger than the water heater's diameter, and constructed of materials resistant to corrosion. The likelihood of future water damage can rise if the drain pain is not installed or if the incorrect size is used.

4. The pressure relief valve is not configured correctly.

​In the event that the internal pressure or temperature rises too high, the pressure relief valve acts as a safety mechanism and discharges water from the tank. Your water heater could burst or possibly explode if the release tube and valve are not installed correctly. 

5. Inadequate connections and material choices

​Negative outcomes may ensue from installing a water heater without the necessary experience and expertise. For instance, it's critical to route the plumbing in a specific way, prevent combining metals, utilize high-quality soldering procedures, and select the appropriate type (and size) of pipes. Any error could result in a system failure, violate the equipment's warranty, or impair the water heater's functionality and efficiency. 

6. Failing to get a permission or adhere to codes

​Homeowners who undertake do-it-yourself projects frequently believe they are free from construction codes and permits, but this is untrue. There's a reason these guidelines are in place, and ignoring them can have costly and dangerous consequences. A trustworthy plumber will guarantee that your water heater installation is completed exactly as written.