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Updated: March 2024
What are your water heater needs? First off, you should size your new water heater to accommodate your home. Afterward, installation is easy enough and can be done by just about anybody. However, most homeowners make mistakes and end up with catastrophic results. Pay attention to the following water heater installation mistakes, so you’ll know what to avoid.
Dielectric Unions
If your tank has copper or brass connectors and your pipes are made of copper, installation should be relatively easy. However, if your tank or pipes are made of galvanized steel, and you want to connect them to a copper pipe; you need to use a dielectric union. This prevents your pipes from coming into contact with one another. When they do, an electric and corrosive charge is created. This usually weakens the pipe, resulting in leaks.
Solder Connections
Don’t solder any connections near your tank. The heat might end up melting any plastic fittings. To avoid this, you should unscrew the nipples and solder on the fittings separately. Leave one connection and solder it far from the tank to avoid melting anything.
Temperature & Pressure Overflow Tube
Water heaters usually come with a temperature and pressure relief valve. This valve sometimes opens without warning and sprays hot water. Therefore, it should be connected to an overflow tube. This way, nobody will be injured when the valve opens unexpectedly. If this valve is located on top of the tank, then the overflow tube should extend to the floor. You don’t want to accidentally give your guests a scalding hot shower!
Please contact Pipe Works Services to learn more about water heater installation. We’ve been serving Union, Essex, Morris, and Somerset Counties since 2000.
