Can I Install An Electric Water Heater Myself

For instance if you have never looked at your existing water heater you may not know if it is gas or electric.

Can i install an electric water heater myself.

Most residential water heaters cost 150 to 400 for either gas or electric plus 200 to 450 if you have a plumber install it. If there needs to be electrical modifications many building jurisdictions will allow you to do the modifications yourself if its your own home but a few jurisdictions may require a license electrician to do the work. Make sure the heater is full of water before restoring power otherwise the heating element may be destroyed. The data plate on your current tank has size and energy specifications that help make buying a comparable unit easier.

There are good reasons water heater installation accounts for a significant portion of the price of a new water heater with safety and actual cost heading the list. This can lead to you purchasing an appliance that may not even be able to be used in your home. The short answer is yes most of the time. More expensive gas water heaters with special venting systems also are available.

If you have decided to install a water heater yourself to save money or to test your diy plumbing skills we suggest you may want to reconsider. It would be very frustrating to purchase an electric hot water heater only to find out that your hot water runs off of gas. For reasons of safety home repair manuals often advise that you have an inspector review the work you did after you install your own hot water heater. A water heater permit is actually an inspection request.

If you have water on the floor or on top of the unit this is different from water leaking from a supply line above the unit you ll probably need a new water heater. Inspection carries its own fee. Electric water heater installation is a great do it yourself task. To install a tankless water heater there are quite a few steps such as mounting the unit and connecting the gas line obviously not needed with an electric water heater and water line to it.

After installation an inspector will come to ensure the heater was installed correctly. The average service life of a water heater is between 8 to 12 years. If you re not afraid of doing some basic electrical work and plumbing you can save yourself some money. The home depot offers services for same day installation when you call before noon in most areas.

If doing the project yourself be sure to find the supplies you need in your local store. It really isn t as hard as you may think. Plumbers typically charge 45 to 65 an hour and can usually install a water heater in a day or in 6 8 hours. You should also consider the cost in time and aggravation when you are doing your own repair.