How hard is it to install a water heater?

weirdichi

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2001
4,711
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My dad insists on installing it himself yet he has no idea whatsoever how to do it. For those of you who have installed one before, how hard and how long did it take?
 

Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
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Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
easy, ~45 minutes including draining the old one.

Electric or gas?


Electric maybe not for gas tho...

I would check local ordinaces because if your oldman fvcks up and burns down the house he may be screwed when trying to make an insurance claim ;)

Ausm
 

weirdichi

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2001
4,711
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Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
easy, ~45 minutes including draining the old one.

Electric or gas?

It's gas I believe. How does that affect the time/difficulty factor?
 

shilala

Lifer
Oct 5, 2004
11,437
1
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It's super easy if he gets the same height tank as he's taking out and there's a couple unions. A shorter tank is okay too. He can make a platform for it.
 

QuitBanningMe

Banned
Mar 2, 2005
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Originally posted by: weirdichi
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
easy, ~45 minutes including draining the old one.

Electric or gas?

It's gas I believe. How does that affect the time/difficulty factor?

Not really more difficult if the fittings are in the same place.

Having said that I don't think your average idiot should play with gas lines. In some places it is illegal not to have a plumber do it.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
Originally posted by: weirdichi
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
easy, ~45 minutes including draining the old one.

Electric or gas?

It's gas I believe. How does that affect the time/difficulty factor?

Not really more difficult if the fittings are in the same place.

Having said that I don't think your average idiot should play with gas lines.

I think anyone with average intelligence and even minor mechanical ability should be able to change a water heater. It's pretty easy. However, I don't think there is a "standard" for the fittings. I bought an almost identical water heater 2 weekends ago.. gas line was off by 2 inches. But, even then, that only caused me about 3 extra minutes of work.

Estimated job times:
Plumber, everything lines up the same (or < 18inch flexible tubing to make it easier to fit)
less than 25 minutes

plumber, need to adjust fittings: 25 min - 1 hour

relatively inexperienced person with the proper tools and a perfect fit: 45 minutes

relatively inexperienced person who needs to run to the store to get fittings, etc. to get it to go together: 3 hours.

When I purchased mine, installation would have been about $300 for the tank... I find my time to be worth at least $100 (worst case scenario)
As it turned out, it took about 30 minutes (had to change the gas fittings), but then, another 25 minutes attempting to light it - factory installed thermocouple wasn't installed correctly. 20 seconds to fix this, and it lit right up.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
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I've done an electric water heater replacement twice and replaced stuff on them a few times. Easy if you have the right tools. Never did a gas water heater before.
 

flamingelephant

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2001
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76
mess up a gas install and you can blow yourself up! here you cant do it unless you are a licenced gas-fitter
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
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Did mine (gas) in a couple of hrs. including a trip up to the store to get pipe.

 

ctracyw

Member
Mar 14, 2005
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I am a plumber :thumbsup: thats about right .1-3 hours figuring a couple of trips to home depot for the fittings that were forgotten.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,103
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You can always call someone to hook up the gas. Personally I have no problem with shutting it off and remove the flex lines.
 

Rastus

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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They are easy to replace. Call the gas company when you are finished and let them turn the gas on and check for leaks. They want you to do that anyway.
 

weirdichi

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2001
4,711
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Originally posted by: ctracyw
I am a plumber :thumbsup: thats about right .1-3 hours figuring a couple of trips to home depot for the fittings that were forgotten.


How much are hourly charges for a plumber? My dad just found one that wants the job done for $60 flat. Seems too good to be true.
 

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
if your going from electric to gas, well. have fun. its a pita cuz you have to install the vent and what not.

MIKE
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
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As long as the gas and water lines match up, easy. If you need to sweat the lines, hire it out.
 

OJ

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: NutBucket
You can always call someone to hook up the gas. Personally I have no problem with shutting it off and remove the flex lines.

I don't know about your area codes, but flex lines are not legal here. Must be hard line plumbed.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,085
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Originally posted by: OJ
Originally posted by: NutBucket
You can always call someone to hook up the gas. Personally I have no problem with shutting it off and remove the flex lines.

I don't know about your area codes, but flex lines are not legal here. Must be hard line plumbed.

My area code is 530. Is it legal here?