Electric water heaters are some of the most common and convenient appliances out there. They can be of huge help, especially in the winters or if you live in the colder regions. You can easily find some of the best electric water heaters online or even in plenty of electronics stores around. However, getting them installed is a difficult task.
The first step is making sure you have enough space for the appliance you are buying. Electric water heaters can be huge and might stick out of the wall more than you might have calculated. So, when you are purchasing an electric water heater, make sure you give proper attention to the size of the water heater.
If you are going for conventional water heaters, the ones with a container, or tank, for water, you should be even more prudent with your approach. They are quite massive if you are getting one with a higher capacity.
Come to think of it; there are a few things you might have to consider before you get yourself an electric water heater. But we can discuss that later on. Before that, you should get an idea about how to get an electric water heater installed in your home.
Obviously, most people tend to call in professional help to do it for them, which is actually the right thing to do. However, you can easily carry out the job with only a few things in hand and a little bit of help. If you order online from Amazon and such, they generally send a professional to set it up for you the same day or sometimes the next. Buying from an offline shop generally has you either finding a professional to set it up on your own or if they are feeling generous, they might arrange one for you.
You can also easily just set it up yourself without a lot of problems too. You would just need the proper equipment and some help, maybe.
How to Install an Electric Water Heater
Now, it is not as difficult as you might think. If you are a DIY sort of person, this would be a walk in the park. The few things you would need an idea about are basic plumbing and some electrical work. If you are up for a challenge, you can easily get your toolbox and get to installing that electric water heater.
Here is a list of things that you would need –
- Toolbox – Mainly wrench and screwdriver
- Voltage tester
- Pipe cutter
- Flexible hoses – Generally, they come with the appliance
- Sandpaper
- Plumbers tape
- Soldering torch – Just in case.
Gas heaters are actually much harder to install. Electric water heaters are easy compared to that. If you have no idea about plumbing and electrical stuff, we suggest hiring a professional. If you do know quite a bit about these things, this will be easy for you.
Step 1:
Disconnect electricity from the main circuit breaker. Use the voltage tester to make sure the unit is off.
Step 2:
Prepare the plumbing lines. If you are installing a new water heater for the first time, use sandpaper to sand down the edges and cut it into a length that is comfortable for you and convenient for the appliances.
Step 3:
Hang the appliance up high. You might need help with this part. Bring up the water heater, drill holes into the wall, and attach the appliance using the screws provided.
Step 4:
Connect the wiring. If your water heater comes with a plug, you need not do this. But some electrical water heaters connect right into the junction box. For that, you would need to unscrew the box and attach the wires accordingly. Attach the ground wire last and make sure they are all well connected.
Step 5:
Attach the plumbing tubes to an open faucet. There are generally extra faucets in the bathroom to attach the water tubes to. In case there is none in your bathroom, find a spare faucet and connect it to that. Find another open faucet that will act as the outlet.
Step 6:
Make sure all power cables and water valves are set in place correctly. Use tape to affix every valve and electric cable
Step 7:
Turn on the water and fill the tank. The next step is to fill the tank of your water heater. Turn on the faucet and fill the container with water. Make sure it is filled.
Step 8:
Turn on the power from your mains, switch on the electric water heater, make sure it is working as expected, and wait for the water to heat. After a few minutes, turn on the water outlet and see if you are getting hot water.
If you are not getting hot water, check all lines if they are properly connected and if the water valves are connected to the right faucet. If it still does not work, you are better off bringing a professional to do it for you.
The entire process can be tiring and require a lot of experience with plumbing and electrical circuits. Seriously speaking, if you do not have the right expertise or resources to get this done, it is better to call someone who is certified to do this. If you have the necessary expertise, installing and setting up your very own electric water heater is quite easy, in fact.
