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Started By
Message
Gas water heater, how hard to replace?
Posted on 10/10/21 at 6:23 am
Posted on 10/10/21 at 6:23 am
My water heater crapped out this weekend, and I'm contemplating a DIY replacement vs having a plumber do it.
I seem to remember helping my dad do this, didn't seem all that hard to do. Looking at the one I'm needing to replace, it was a 1996 GE, so I got my money out of it.
A quick google search and I'm finding a ton of "GET A PLUMBER, DON'T TRY THIS YOURSELF" posts.
I checked with the guys who do the Home Depot installation locally in BR (Central Plumbing), they told me on the phone they would charge 1-2K in addition to the cost of the actual water heater. That seems crazy.
What I remember, the biggest issue was not breaking the glass tank liner while getting the heater home, and then simply making sure you connect the water and gas lines correctly. It's not in an attic or hard-to-get area, it's in my laundry room near the carport.
I seem to have the "tall" model, with a 50 gal tank. It's just me and my son, so I should be able to use a 40 gal replacement, right? We never ran out of hot water with the old one.
So, Rheem (from Home Depot), or AO Smith from Lowes? Looks like the Rheem is a little cheaper, and I like Home Depot more.
I seem to remember helping my dad do this, didn't seem all that hard to do. Looking at the one I'm needing to replace, it was a 1996 GE, so I got my money out of it.
A quick google search and I'm finding a ton of "GET A PLUMBER, DON'T TRY THIS YOURSELF" posts.
I checked with the guys who do the Home Depot installation locally in BR (Central Plumbing), they told me on the phone they would charge 1-2K in addition to the cost of the actual water heater. That seems crazy.
What I remember, the biggest issue was not breaking the glass tank liner while getting the heater home, and then simply making sure you connect the water and gas lines correctly. It's not in an attic or hard-to-get area, it's in my laundry room near the carport.
I seem to have the "tall" model, with a 50 gal tank. It's just me and my son, so I should be able to use a 40 gal replacement, right? We never ran out of hot water with the old one.
So, Rheem (from Home Depot), or AO Smith from Lowes? Looks like the Rheem is a little cheaper, and I like Home Depot more.
6
Posted on 10/10/21 at 6:59 am to Scoob
I had to do the same thing earlier this year. I hired a plumber to install it while I was at work and he got there and said it wouldn’t fit in my attic. I knew it would bc I measured it multiple times to be certain. So I called a buddy and we hoisted the old one down and the new one up with a ratchet strap. They make a shark bite installation kit that makes it incredibly easy. I got a new gas hose as well just to be on the safe side. YOUTUBE is a great resource for this project. $1k+ for install is insane.
Posted on 10/10/21 at 7:37 am to Scoob
The hardest part of the job is wrestling the new heater into the house, and the old one out. I wouldn't step down to a 40 gal model, you will run out of hot water. When I replaced mine 16 years ago, I had the typical cheap builder's model 40 gal water heater. With just my wife (no pics) and I we were constantly running out of hot water. Yeah, she takes long very hot showers. I upgraded to a 50 gal. unit and have never had that problem again. My inlet and outlet lines were all copper, and soldered. It had a good length of straight copper coming out of the wall, so I just used a tubing cutter to cut the lines and remove the old heater. The tubing cutter made for a perfectly prepared pipe end for the Shark joints. Before you start, make sure you hook a garden hose to the water heaters drain valve. Make sure you have shut off the water supply. Run the garden hose out the door to the yard or the street. Open the heater drain valve first, then open your over pressure relief valve on the heater and let it drain completely. After that it is a piece of cake.
I bought the Rheem from Home Depot, but the A.O. Smith is just as good.
I bought the Rheem from Home Depot, but the A.O. Smith is just as good.
This post was edited on 10/10/21 at 7:39 am
Posted on 10/10/21 at 7:48 am to clickboom
Purely personal experience - so take it for what it's worth
We put Rheem Professional in December 2020 (maybe November). Already having problems that require it be replaced. Rheem can't supply the replacement parts so it's being replaced. Maybe I got a lemon - but sounds like this part failure (controller and/or actual pilot device) is kind of common
Model PROG50-38N RH60
Didn't get it at HD - got thru smaller supplier. So maybe model wouldn't be the same. Even longer explanation on how I got it - but I assume the person who got it for me did not have expectation that I was getting a crappy model
We put Rheem Professional in December 2020 (maybe November). Already having problems that require it be replaced. Rheem can't supply the replacement parts so it's being replaced. Maybe I got a lemon - but sounds like this part failure (controller and/or actual pilot device) is kind of common
Model PROG50-38N RH60
Didn't get it at HD - got thru smaller supplier. So maybe model wouldn't be the same. Even longer explanation on how I got it - but I assume the person who got it for me did not have expectation that I was getting a crappy model
Posted on 10/10/21 at 7:50 am to Scoob
Any competent DIY with a helper can change one out. Good advice in this thread and youtube.
The reason plumbing companies charge so much is the city makes them pull a permit and do an inspection and invariably there are issues like catwalks or other stuff that come up in the inspection process.
Why the hell you need the city involved in a water heater replacement is beyond me.
I would make sure you have good access in the attic and do some plywood improvements on the catwalks if you don't. This could save putting a foot through a ceiling by accident.
Also it isn't that hard or expensive to properly solder copper joints. I'm not a fan of sharkbite fittings but many seem to like them.
Post up some pics and a writeup here when you're done and let us know how it went!
The reason plumbing companies charge so much is the city makes them pull a permit and do an inspection and invariably there are issues like catwalks or other stuff that come up in the inspection process.
Why the hell you need the city involved in a water heater replacement is beyond me.
I would make sure you have good access in the attic and do some plywood improvements on the catwalks if you don't. This could save putting a foot through a ceiling by accident.
Also it isn't that hard or expensive to properly solder copper joints. I'm not a fan of sharkbite fittings but many seem to like them.
Post up some pics and a writeup here when you're done and let us know how it went!
Posted on 10/10/21 at 8:19 am to Scoob
I know next to nothing about plumber and did it myself. My water heater was outside though so I figured if I messed anything up nothing would be damaged. I bought one of the kits with new gas and water lines and changed those out too.
The only mistake I can remember making is not disconnecting the water lines when I drained the tank. I opened the drain and let it drain until nothing came out. When I went to move the tank I realized it was still full of water but couldn’t drain because there was no way for it to vent.
The only mistake I can remember making is not disconnecting the water lines when I drained the tank. I opened the drain and let it drain until nothing came out. When I went to move the tank I realized it was still full of water but couldn’t drain because there was no way for it to vent.
Posted on 10/10/21 at 8:29 am to 23
I’m pretty sure I can do this, but mine is in my attic. Might be better off to pay someone to install it.
Posted on 10/10/21 at 5:37 pm to Scoob
For $1800 all in, you should let the plumber do it...
Posted on 10/11/21 at 6:00 pm to oldskule
quote:Nah
For $1800 all in, you should let the plumber do it...
Done, easy-peasy. Absolute biggest issue was lining up a way to get the heater home, as my truck is in the shop right now.
I worked this weekend, was off today. We drained the old heater over the weekend, unhooked the lines.
I got a ride to HD with a friend who has a Rav4, that was just enough room to get it. They had one Rheem 50 gal left, I grabbed that up. Dolly to get the old one out of the house, new one into place.
Got the lines connected, no leak. Made sure my exhaust was drafting out, yep; all good. Took the most glorious hot shower afterwards
Lowes has an easy DIY video, I just did everything they did.
Posted on 10/11/21 at 6:45 pm to Scoob
quote:
Lowes has an easy DIY video, I just did everything they did.
It's hunting season....no weekend projects til February! LOL
Posted on 10/12/21 at 2:09 pm to Scoob
I replaced mine last month. It was in my laundry room. Bought the water heater, Teflon and 2 new water connections. Grabbed an AO Smith, 50 gallon gas water heater from Lowe’s. Got it for $525 bc it had a dent. I had to modify my exhaust to fit it correctly but it’s super easy. My wife helped me carry the thing.
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