Things To Think About Before Installing A Hot Water Heater

16 November 2021
 Categories: , Blog

Share  

Whether you're replacing an old hot water heater or installing your first one in a newly built home, there are some things that you'll need to think about. Especially if you've been navigating the process alone, it's important that you understand some of the fundamentals of safe, proper water heater installation. Here's a look at a few things that your plumber would like you to know about installing a new water heater in your home.

Know Your Needs

Perhaps the most common mistake that homeowners make when installing a new hot water heater is choosing one that's poorly sized for their needs. In fact, even just choosing the same size as the water heater you're removing in a replacement situation may not be the right solution. 

Think about how many people are in your family and how much hot water you use on a daily basis. If you're not able to calculate your demand, talk with a plumber who can help you do so. They can guide you to the best size of hot water heater for your family, or even suggest a tankless water heater if that's the better solution.

Install It Properly

Improper installation is another common issue for many homeowners who decide to install a water heater themselves. Although you might think of it as a pretty simple process, hot water heater installation is actually more complex than you might think.

You'll want to make sure that you install your hot water heater somewhere that's easily accessible because you don't want to fight your way to it if there's a problem later. You'll also need to be sure that the drain line is connected properly. Connect a drain line to the outlet and run that line directly to the closest floor drain. That way, any water purged from the tank will flow directly to a drain outlet and there's no source for water backups.

Fill The Tank Before You Heat

It's tempting to install the water heater, turn it on, and let the water fill as the heating element starts to warm up. However, this is not an ideal way to handle your new hot water heater installation. Instead, you should fill the tank completely with water before you engage the heating element. Otherwise, you run the risk of overheating the element and burning it out or causing a short. 

With so many potential issues that can arise, it's often best to seek professional hot water heater installation. Talk with a plumber near you today for more help.

For more information reach out to a company like Merrimack Valley Plumbing LLC.