How to Replace an Electric Hot Water Tank | DIY Home Repair
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2019
- Do you need to replace your electric hot water tank but don't know where to start? Follow along as I change my tank, PLUS we'll open it up to see what happened inside!
Got a comment or question? Leave it below and I'll get back to you!
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Videos produced by Home Renovision are provided for informational purposes only. All material provided within this website is for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only. Some of these projects, materials, and techniques may not be appropriate for all ages or skill levels. The DIY instructions used here are used to simply breakdown projects to their simplest steps. Please use a clear mind and use all safety precautions while following the tutorials provided by this site. Home Renovision does not make any claims of the safety of the projects, techniques, or resources listed on this site and will not take responsibility of what you do with the information provided by this site. Viewers must be aware by doing projects on their homes they are doing it at their own risk and Home Renovision cannot be held liable if they cause any damage to their homes. With different codes around the world and constantly changing standards, regulations and rules, it is the sole responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves on their local requirements before undertaking any sort of project. That being said Home Renovision cannot claim liability with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project. Be safe, have fun renovating and ALWAYS stay informed with your local building code. - Jak na to + styl
I like the calm and respectful way you teach your son. Showing confidence in him. So many people well-experienced at something forget that the fundamentals don't sound so simple to the learner, when you can do them "blindfolded." And the rest of us too, things like not removing your tape as you tighten.
Tackling this today. Thank you for your fun attitude. You obviously care and it shows, your a good teacher. I too have an extremely old electric water heater with some decidedly janky connections from a previous owner who was a severe DIYer and ironically a GC. Stunning the corners he cut! UPDATE! Started at 8:30 am finished at 1:00 pm, few hiccups along the way but no trips to the depot thanks to being prepared! You made this job easy for me, thank you.
Great stuff! I most especially like the fact that your videos are not examples of exact perfection. Makes it all the more human and accessible. Thanks.
Thank you for this video!! I appreciate being taught these skills and the detailed information about how things work and long term maintenance!
Just install my first tank this morning. This video made the process so easy. Thanks Jeff!!!
I have to tell you your video series’s Are some of the best on CZcams and I’ve learned so much from you. Keep up the good work. I would be lost without a lot of your information sir. Thank you so much for your work.
You're the best. I've watched a lot of your vids on numerous repair concerns and you always give clear and thorough instructions. Anyone who can't appreciate your advice and information should simply leave it to a professional. Thanks.
Loved this video! I always wanted to cut a tank open! Learned some great new maintenance tips I never knew too!!! Thanks for all you do!
Changing the rod will save your tank for a long time. Cheers!
Thanks guys you know what you're doing and you showed me eso es.
You forgot to mention to fill the water heater tank completely with water before turning on the power to prevent the heating element from burning out as it's water cooled!
Yup that’s called dry firing an element and will destroy it immediately
For how much he talked about everything else but the actual job, not surprising.
Actually after completing the piping he had his son turn the water on. He didnt specifically mention this but anyone who has messed around with HWH should know not to fire up the power before filling the tank.
That's what really made this video bad to me about not mentioning about turning back on the water.
Heck YA ! Thanks to you guys, I was able to relocate my whole kitchen from one wall to another and I updated the whole plumbing system.I did all of my plumbing / drain system and its so much better/accessible now !
Great to hear another success story. Cheers!
Best DIY channel even if I’m not doing the work I watch your vids!! Thanks for great videos always a thumbs up 👍🤘🤛👍
Great video. You’re a hell of a teacher, brother. Nothing better than passing down some knowledge to the younger generation.
Absolutely wonderful channel. Great advice and no bs of what renovations are really like. Not chopped and made easy for tv
That is because I am actually doing the work. cheers!
This is all great to know! Hopefully will be replacing as well as moving our waterheater sometime in the future, its in a "cupboard" in the basement bathroom lol and I would like to reclaim some of that space and redo the whole bathroom as well. These videos make it feel less terrifying to do but it all just gives me such horrible anxiety thinking about doing this kind of thing (even when I know 100% what im doing).
Love your videos and the personality you bring to them, feel like I might be able to accomplish a lot when I go to build a home. Just wondering if you'll be doing a video on electric tankless hot water systems for use in Canada. Or with our northern climate if it's worth it with the colder water coming into the home. Thanks!
This video is going to be a great help in performing this task. Good job, guys.
The shutoff valve is typically on the cold inlet to allow you to service the water heater without shutting off the main.
@@genebold9544 You don't want a shutoff on both the inlet and the outlet. If the pressure relief valve fails, you could be creating a bomb that way.
I agree that it is more normal to have the shutoff on the cold inlet side.
Secrets to getting 30 years out of a tank:
Sediment filter before the shutoff on supply.
Expansion tank after the water tank.
"High hat" (vacuum breaker) between shut off and tank.
Change your anode(s) every 3 to 5 years.
completely drain and refill twice a year to keep sediment out.
I have changed about 80 tanks over 25 years. The very first one I put in are still running tip-top.
Great advice Tim. Cheers!
If i knew what all those words meant, that would be very helpful. lol. As a soon to be new and first time home owner. I'll be looking into your suggestions for sure.
@@tjomasleal554 The install goes like this...
Supply line --> Shut off --> Vacuum breaker --> Hot water tank --> Expansion tank
You don't HAVE to have an expansion tank, but it does save on the wear and tare of your fixtures... And the Vacuum breaker is put between the shut off and the tank for the following reason. Let's say you turn off the supply of water with the shutoff valve. Well, the water in the tank is still hot. But, let's say the power goes out while the supply is off... As that water cools it will shrink, pull a vacuum and possibly implode your tank. Those tanks are designed to resist expansion, not contraction. So, if the supply of water is off, and the power is out, as the water cools, the vacuum breaker (called a hi-hat by the pros) will allow air into the tank to balance out the pressure. $10 investment can save you 10s of thousands in repairs. Insurance companies will not cover the damage of a tank implosion if there is no vacuum breaker installed.
Tjomas Leal inline filter runs between the cold IN , filters stuff that suppies the heating process.
Vacum breaker stops water from running back through the supply and the expansion tank is a another small storage tank after the hot outline, its not necessary but some codes require it. Takes the load off the main tank.
@@timfalardeau9753 I thought the expansion tank goes on the cold water inlet? Am I misinformed?
Last October, I did away with my 40 gallon water tank and went with a "Tankless gas on demand system" and I love it, my electric bill dropped and no the gas bill didn't increase. I also had a new water softener installed plus a whole house filter, and a reverse osmosis system put in. So far it has been great. PS: I live in the country & have well water, lots of iron in the water.
Great video, thank you. After watching this I decided to replace my hot water tank myself, and had no issues at all. Thank you both. I owe you a few beers.
Installing a water heater really is a tankless job. #cheers #gary
Tank you for leaving the comment. Can't tank you enough. Cheers!
fill it with water and it's tankful
Thank you for this video. I am trying to learn about plumbing and it is an amazing help to see everything step by step along with the advice as you go.
Thank you.
You're awesome mate ty you show every part and all the little tips.
Great informative video!! Thanks for the help and all the great advice!
Fantastic video and info. Thanks, I am getting ready to do this very thing in the next month or less
This video was so satisfying... And the end was good cutting it open
Cool video, I’m about to change one out in a cabin in the country. Great tips! 👍🏻
Love this guy,he knows his stuff and saved me alot of money,because he's the man! ,and he shows you how to do it right ,cant you tell by the way he talks to his workers and to us that hes right !and even throws in a few stories on how the job could of been done by other guys,or other contractors,who probably know how to do it just as good as him but without the video, but I RATHER,watch him take the time out to steer us in the right way, not the other right ways but his ways,he puts it out there in the ways of letting us know that his way is better, and less time consumming,i hope ! spelled that right,
Love the father son moments. Priceless education.
This video arrive 2 weeks late ... changed mine 2 weeks ago, but glad I did everything right ! The tank lasted 7 years (enjoyed 3 on my ownership), the hole of middle element was all rusted out and started leaking. hope next one last longer ! Cheers and thank for this awesome channel
Perhaps change the anode rod after 4 years. cheers!
Great video. Thanks for the great tips
You are good at what you do, and have patience, with a lot of little nice informational tidbits...keep it up!
I love this video! Thank you for showing all the details! I feel confident now if my electric one goes out, that I can replace it myself! Yay! As a subscriber, you have helped me out soooo much by answering my email questions. I love that you showed what the inside of the tank looks like. I’ve always wondered. Thanks again for the great video!
I have a 15 year old Gemco that I’m changing out this weekend with another Gemco, thanks for the video.
I am binge watching again. Last time i did a complete bathroom remodel, transformed a walk in closet into a laundry room with dry good storage and added sheetrock to my newly widened hallway. all of this was because i studied your videos. is it absolutely perfect? No, but small repairs over time and it looks amazing now.
No wonder you have almost 3 mil subscribers. Everything you teach is gold! Thanks!
Very educational video!
As always!
Kudos to you.
Thanks Bryan Cheers!
you rock jeff, I wanted to do this project soon.
Cheers James, Not as hard as you might think. !
Great video thanks for taking the time to make it. 👍
We actually had a lot of fun with this one. Cheers!
Thanks! Doing this today, very nice video and great job.
Thanks Jeff, always! I’m new to the trades and am always searching your channel for information
make sure full of water before you turn on the electric.
definitely, Cheers!
LOL!!!
We've all made that mistake before....
HA! Did someone say cracked heating elements? :(
I was wondering if he had filled it up when they turned it on since he never mentioned it.....
The valve is in the “off” position. I think he just f’d up
Replaced my first tank and used your vid as reference. Really helpful. I had a cold water inlet at bottom. Tip is to slightly cut the hot water pipe and it will help the water to drain more quickly thru hose. Then cut cold water pipe. Keep up the good work, Jeff!!!
Glad it helped
Love your videos, As an electrician, i would encourage you to make a habit of connecting Ground first whenever doing electrical work.
In the US, most codes do not allow you to connect plastic directly to the tank. If you have a pex or cpvc system you need atleast 18" of copper (or galvanized which no one uses any more) or flexible copper or braided line between the tank and the pex. And it should be 3/4" line in and out of the tank. You can reduce the line size later in your system when branching out but main trunks should stay 3/4. Maybe you will redo this when you complete you manifold system later.
When did this become code?
You are right about that. This guy is a dick. He also shows u to use a noncontact voltage tester to determine if the circuit is dead. You dont want this guy to replace your water heater.
yup and 10 gauge wire 30 Amp breaker .... without exposed romex too
Exactly I see this not lasting
This is true for gas combustion water heaters. PEX needs to be 6 to 18 inches away from the vent duct (only gas has exhaust tube). I believe building codes may allow for electric water heaters to be connected directly to PEX without the 18” metal tubing separation. Manufacturers like Zurn provide instructions that state this. Disclaimer: local building codes will vary. Check with your local ordinance.
i left my job as a pipefitter and joined a company with 30 apartment buildings as a maintenance man.
i have to say thank you.
ive used so many of your videos i feel like i owe you haha!
I just installed a heat pump water heater with the aid of this, and a few other videos. I called around and the cheapest I found was $1400 to install same day (our old one dumped about 15 gallons of water on our basement floor so we needed it ASAP), with the most expensive being $2200. Man... I understand same day is likely a premium but this isn't a $1400 job let alone a $2200 one. It did take me most of a day to get things done as I wanted to be sure things were done right, and boy am I happy I went ahead and saved that money. Hopefully this heat pump heater saves a ton on energy too!
No body talked about an annual water tank flush. It's a simple process that not only removes the nasty sediment but prolongs the life of the tank.
Thanks, I just learned about this after the bottom of my tank failed! You can bet that I'll be flushing the new one once a year for sure.
@@adrianv3916 LOL.... I think we all learned the hard way. My 1st one burst & created my very own indoor swimming pool. Another highly neglected tank maintained thing is changing the anode rod every couple of years. It cost me just over $20 & doing this prolongs the life of the tank for many years. It's one of those things that's totally forgotten but extremely easy & cheap to do. Good luck to you.
that is a can of worms to open if dirt gets in valve, then you can't close it and have to replace valve or water heater. A water softener to get rid of the minerals in the water is a good option I have soft water and have heaters last 15 to 20 years no sediment. also, some water heaters have curved drop tubes to swirl the sediment up when using water, so the sediment goes out to fixtures it does not sit in bottom of tank much
Thanks for the lesson!! Like father like son,very nice person.
Thank you for your detailed instructions
Thanks for showing how and sharing that!
Cheers Hassan!
Great job I learned a lot please keep these videos coming
Thanks, will do!
I used that shark bite on a kitchen sink and it has worked like a charm.
Thank youv very much. i always enjoy your videos.
27:10 Oh man! Say goodbye to that pressboard utility sink cabinet. 😄
Exactly what I was thinking. Water and heat = Ikea Killer.
Thanks for the great video. I think I can do that now after watching your video.
that was the best video explanation anyone could ask for. Many many thank yous. made me wanna subscribe. Thanx again brother.
Awesome video! I dig this series
Cheers Micah, we have lots of footage from the farmhouse coming up.
God damn this guy is awesome ! I remember watching your video on how to paint interiors without tape and primer and my painting has truly improved ! Too bad I don't get to cut open the tanks at my job 😭
Had my electric heater melt down yesterday. Here's the scenario...40 G tank is in the corner of a small
closet, virtually full, drain valve plugged with sediment and useless. Here's what I did to empty and move it out... shut off breaker and supply line valve, disconnect power wires, disconnect both the
input and output water lines. Take a wet vac and press the hose end tightly overtop the INPUT threads,
and pull the water up and out of the tank, being careful not to burn out your shop vac (30 secs, let it
breathe and so on) Good luck, worked for me. Thanks for your videos Jeff :)
I'm surprised by the bad shape of the water tank for just 6 years old. I live in a coop and they mandate the HWH be changed every 10 yrs, I go about 12-15 before I'm caught, so replace it then. They are always in near pristine shape, no leaks, or rust these Bradford Whites. My place in Fl has the same model, last over 20 years before it shows drips, but never catastrophically. Now, it takes 2 pro plumbers about 1.5-2 hrs replacing it to copper pipes using ProPress fitings. previously it was about 2-3 hrs with soldering. Didn't know you could use flexible PVC tubes on them. Given all the lifting and gear needed, I leaves this for the pros, but your vid shows there are easier ways too! Thank you.
Great job 👏 I did the same thing to a client's water heater here in Jamaica. I like your work, maybe we can link up on a job in the future
Awesome job guys!
Wow 😮 had know idea exactly how a hot water tank worked, thanks for the awesome video.
What do you think about the new tankless hot water systems?
Loving your channel
NEVER EVER use a white wire as a live wire WITHOUT marking it black! Mark the wire on both ends. Best practice (and I think is the new code), use 3 conductor with ground. If neutral is not required for install, cap the end of it and coil inside. Side note: I've never seen an electric water heater of that size pull less than 20 amps. That wire should be 10/3 with ground. Outside of that, great video!
Depends where you are, NEC only requires it be marked. But he is in Canada, I Don't know Canadian code.
@@MurkleQ yup both times .... figure on 30 Amp 10 gauge wire and your safe with out exposed romex
You showed me a lot brother, thanks
This was amazing
Plumber here, please take this comment to heart: Shark Bite fittings are for temporary use only. If you're using pex, use a pex ball valve. If you're using copper, sweat one in. I prefer the later, but I'm old school. Pex works just as well. Don't use shark bite if you can help it, it'll cut down on your cost and your headache when that compression fitting pops in a few years or during a cold spell. Also, it may not be code everywhere, but if at all possible, put your tank in a pan and then elevate. Install a water alarm. It will save you headache in the future if you spring a leak. And you should always bring your relief to 4-6" from the floor. This minimizes risk from kids pulling it open at eye level or you bumping it if the power goes out. Trust me, that water is hot.
wow good advice
some place also requires metal pipe for first few feet out of heater, so plastic does not degrade over time and securing the water heater is a good idea with some strapping especially with flex lines on tall tank
My brother installed a fleck water softener..great system
I will be doing my video on the softener install soon. Cheers!
That easy? Where have you been all these years!! Awesome video! Thank You!
Living in a cold wintry hell called Canada! You?
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Ahah! Same, 2 hours North.
My go to page when I'm doing any project around the house.
Nice video. Thanks. But why put the valve on the hot side? Usually if only one valve is used it's placed on the cold supply side. Sure the owner originally apparently put it on the hot side, but why repeat his error? Personally I'd try and keep my pex connectors as far from the heat of the tank as possible, like 18 inches, and use metal flex connectors for the final leg. Obviously where ever this project is located, it's not in earthquake country! Nothing to keep it from toppling over but simple gravity. Interesting to see the variation in practice from person to person and location to location.
Once again thanks Jeff.
Our pleasure to help. Cheers!
Love this channel. Lots of great content. Please show your assistant how to use channel locks cause he was using them backwards.
LOL, I did that just the other day. Cheers!
Great video as always, just one question, why replace the unit with the same giving the sediment problem? why not go tankless?
Great question. the reason we have so much sediment is that the house has no filter or softener. in it. Once we address the water quality issue we will go tankless. Cheers!
You make it almost fun.Great vid
Just one small "pro" tip, use 3/4 for your fill or cold line. It is faster and handles a ton more volume. Plus that's the actual fitting that is on the water heaters.
Ryan Roberts Yeah I’m not sure why they downsized that
Same reason they put literal plastic plugs mandatory into all of our shower heads so we use less water but still pay our monthly water bill service fee before usage amount. Meanwhile the users get a much less satisfying experience.
Love your videos!
Cheers Paul!
always great video
Good point about tagging out in your own house. My mother in law had me ride the lightning on a fan job. Fan sat capped off for a week because I had major food poisoning that same weekend.
27:05 gosh i love this channel. he is like a super hero
😂
24:41 if you flip that break it wont blow it.. blank stare hmm
go ahead. ok stand back
lmao so awkward yet funny.
If you don't enjoy what you do........
Any way a video of the installation and plumbing on the water line manifold? That would be great.
Do you have recommendations for a tankless water heater system? How big (capacity), where to put it, guideline on quality or features to look for, etc. I think a tankless water heater (or "on demand") would be more energy efficient, and takes up less space in the house. Probably also is less maintenance, and creates less waste when it's time to replace it. I would think
Your Numero Uno in my book!
Eh....Thanks Jeff....doing this on my own in August..great help!
Happy to be helpful, Cheers!
The plumbing in my old house is a hodgepodge of copper, cpvc and galvanized steel but thankfully no black plastic ;) I'm going to redo everything with PEX. I've never changed out the anode rod on any water heater. Thanks for the videos, they've been helpful. BTW, you definitely need a whole house filter ;)
Totally agree about the filter. We will be installing one soon. BTW I can't speak highly enough of pex and how easy it is to switch it out. Cheers!
Amazing video as always, and the last bit with the tank being cut open, "very Games of Thronesy", gave it a very distinctive edge. Amazing. Kudos.
Thanks , Cheers i always wanted to know what it looked like after it was done!
Excellent material
Thanks Isaac, cheers!
Yur are best teach and make easy doing any way thanks
Thank you glad to be of help. Cheers!
Outstanding
Music at the end is hilarious. Great video guys
The dramatic music and the steam clearing to see the wreckage was a nice effect.
Fun times :)
Hey Jeff, have you heard of the threads/housing/etc breaking from trying to screw out the old anode rod? I think mine is like 7 years old but don't know how hard our water is yet. Nothing wrong with our hot water supply yet.
Enjoy all the videos even when I don't need to do the stuff! Anyway, how about a video to replace a water heater to a tankless on demand type? - preferably natural gas. I don't trust anyone else's videos but yours! HAHA I also have chain link fencing to repair after a couple of trees got lazy and decided to lay down ARGH! HAHA
I’ve an older home on a well like you, it’s a 1940s home with an ancient hot water tank and water treatment system which one would you replace first the hot water tank or the treatment system
Thank you very much
Mark
Please make a video to replace gas water heaters. Thank you!
very easy just shut off the water... and proper venting. i put in a tankless gas water heater, 0 experience and its working great for months... one cold in, one gas line in, one hot water pipe out.. & venting . thats it
One of these days we will cheers.
Same process, just slightly different. All the plumbing stuff would be the same.
Instead of cutting power, you would shut off the gas to the tank. There should be a shut-off on the gas line near the tank. There should also be a union on that gas line (after the shut off) for you to disconnect that gas line.
The only other difference is you also have to deal with the flue pipe. (for exhausting gases)
Should only have to remove one or two sheet metal screws to disconnect it from the tank. Then pivot out of the way until the new tank is in place.
Now I know what's inside the water tank... I never knew that you can replace the anode rod. All I know is to replace the whole entire water tank.
Thanks again MASTER JEFF for the DIY Videos...God Bless,
Changing out the anode rod will extend the life of the tank for sure. cheers!
Shouldn't you make sure the new tank is full of water before reconnecting the electric lines in order to avoid a dry spark?