Water Heater Tips


Tim Carter, of www.askthebuilder.com, demonstrates some helpful installation tips for gas and electric water heaters.

25 Responses to “Water Heater Tips”

  • jerryf44:

    Wait. all this about the water and gas exhaust. what about the actual gas coming to the heater? are there no regs on this?

  • silas132:

    Depends what country or state you reside in.
    But a single wall vent connector into a chimney liner is to code. Along with other clearance and sizing restrictions of coarse. A water Heater is NOT something the home owner should do.

  • AsktheBuilder:

    I guess you should get elected to the committee that writes that section of the building code if that’s how you feel.

  • HUGGCLIFF:

    ummm cause you can cook an egg on that thing and that creats a fire hazard

  • spider00998877:

    the flue should surely rise at least 600mm before the first bend and be kept as vertically as poss before termination here in the uk that would’nt be allowed

  • AsktheBuilder:

    Single wall. Why? It’s perfectly legal as it vents into a masonry chimney.

  • cliffhuggins:

    is that double wall or single wall vent pipe cause it looks alot like dryer vent ?

  • AsktheBuilder:

    If you have valves on both the cold and hot-water lines, they’re both CLOSED, the Temp and Pressure Relief Valve fails AND the thermostat fails, then the pressure inside the heater builds like an out-of-control boiler. You then, at some point, get a massive explosion.

  • 321ozzy:

    “NEVER install a valve on the outgoing hot water supply line”
    I would like to know the reason for it as
    I have a solar boiler on my roof and I placed a safety relief valve on the hot water out pipe, it is positioned upwards, like a y shape, using a t piece. (I hope I made myself clear)

    Thank you for sharing your video.

    Regards from Mexico

  • AsktheBuilder:

    Should be.

  • goodnoss:

    Good tip,
    I would like to know if the 100gal tank is enough for a duplex (2bed 1bath) Thanks

  • spider00998877:

    good advice not so sure about that fle though

  • leafs11cups:

    @JustAHumbleMumble
    Venting is wrong……

  • AsktheBuilder:

    You’re correct about the power of a failed heater. I’ve seen photos of one that went through a roof. But if people follow the advice in this video, they’ll be just fine. The two most important things are to NEVER install a valve on the outgoing hot water supply line and install a NEW pressure – temperature relief valve that MATCHES the specs that come with the heater. NEVER reuse a temp-pressure relief valve.

  • JustAHumbleMumble:

    all i can say is make absoulty shure you are positive you know what your doing if installed incorrectly this cylinder will turn into a bomb that could through steam explosion wipe out at least half of a single story home and kill…it has happned in the past and it will happen in the future if un qualified people install these systems incorrectly…all i ask you is are you willing to risk you and your familys life for a cheep install…dont fool around ring a qualified plumber ensure your safety

  • Watkinshire:

    thansk for the video :)

  • SkyFitsHeaven24:

    I installed a new water heater a few years back and it had the pressure relief valve and heat saver nipples factory installed. It also came with pipe insulation. I later found out that New York state law required those items to be factory installed. It was one of those Home Depot GE water heaters which are actually made by Rheem.

  • AsktheBuilder:

    Every one I’ve ever installed screws into the heater.

  • iamkat2:

    What about that relief valve? It’s soldered on…what to do??

  • AsktheBuilder:

    Most just accept a 3/4-inch male fitting. You can feed it with a larger pipe and just reduce at the heater.

  • mauibuilt1132:

    I have a question about the water connection sizes of the pipes on home water heaters… 3/4 inches is the standard size right?? do connection sizes go bigger than that??

  • thebiomedman:

    nice bro!!!

  • AsktheBuilder:

    Great question. We don’t have earthquakes where this video was taped. I would say that 90 percent of the USA doesn’t need those straps. And my college degree is in geology. I know they are code requirements in California and possibly Oregon and Washington.

  • Lengsel7:

    Where’s your earthquake strapping?

  • AirbikeRon:

    Com’mon Tim, I’m a GUY, I don’t actually READ instructions, I simply put them away until a real problem occurs….
    Seriously though, there are complete instructions and the manufacture did a wonderful job of explaining everything, right down to the size of each component. I now know how to do a first rate installation.
    Come to think of it, “How to Read the Manufacture’s Instructions” would make another great video, don’t you think?