In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner be proactive about their home maintenance by replacing their existing tank-type water heater before it fails.
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Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey takes us on a house call to relieve a homeowner’s stress. With a 16-year-old water heater lurking in the basement, the homeowner is expecting it to fail at any moment, so Richard suggests they swap it out with a new unit.
Difficult: ⅖
Time: 4 hours
Cost: Under $800
Where to find it?
Richard installs a hot water heater (tank-type) with the help of a homeowner. Richard suggests replacing the old hot water heater with a new tank instead of opting to install a new combination boiler, as it’s the most cost effective solution, and a really simple replacement. Richard suggests that once the new hot water heater reaches the end of its life, the boiler will likely be at the end of its life too. At that point, replacing both the boiler and how water heater with a combination boiler is the best solution.
Tools and materials are manufactured by Rheem Manufacturing [
To remove the old tank use the following steps:
1. Shut off the gas line and close the water lines connected to the tank.
2. Drain the water out of the tank. There’s a discharge point in the tank that Richard can connect a
hose to drain out the water. (If there isn’t a nearby utility sink or a floor drain on the basement level,
you’ll need to pump the water up to the grade and discharge outside.)
3. Unthread the gas connection with a pipe wrench.
4. Using a pipe cutter, cut the water lines both to and from the tank.
5. The final connection to the hot water heater is the flue pipe, which can be cut with a reciprocating
saw.
To install the new tank use the following steps:
1. Using new ductwork, reconnect the flue pipe to the chimney and seal it with silicone.
2. At the disconnect points, push connect new 1⁄2” copper pipes from the shutoff valves to supply
valves on the tank. The main line should go in on the right and the hot water line should leave on the
left.
3. Rethread the gas piping on the bottom of the tank using the pipe wrench. Some pipe dope will
ensure the gas pipe stays fully sealed.
4. Turn the gas back on and check for leaks.
5. Turn the water on and let it fill the tank.
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Materials:
Permanent marker [
Plumber’s sanding cloth [
Shims [
Plumber’s thread tape [
Various copper fittings [
Concrete [
Lead-free solder [
Flux [
Vacuum valve [
Self-tapping chimney screws [
Tools:
Water pump pliers [
Garden hose and pump (optional) [
Screwdriver [
Tubing cutter [
Pipe wrenches [
Bubble level [
Cold chisel [
Hammer [
Trowels [
Pipe brushes [
Gas torch [
Screwgun [
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
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How to Replace a Tank-Type Water Heater | Ask This Old House
1923 , [vid_dislikes]
This Old House,Home Improvement,DIY,Construction,Ask This Old House,Building,water heaters,plumbing,heating,Richard Trethewey
6 years warranty and he is up at night.
Me with my 23 year old water heater and sleeping like a baby.
I love this plumber
I'm surprised he didn't mention adding a mixing valve to get even more hot water from the tank
also, since you had to pump the water out anyways, go ahead and save it in a trash can or something and use it for watering some plants or something ????
Good info but total BS intro. I have installed several gas water heaters in my day, no issues and I am not a professional.
I wonder how much truth there is in the 8-12 year life-span of these water heaters. I just replaced mine after 22 years, just out of caution and the realization that a smaller unit would suffice for my needs. One of my friends has one that has been working perfectly since 1986 without any flushing of anode rod replacement.
A well-maintained water heater can last 15-20 years if you replace the anode rod. Why didn't they check that first before swapping the entire system. It was leaking yet so why replace something that is still working. If they would have pulled the anode rod first they could have probably just replaced that and extended the life of the water heater. Just because the system is only "warrantied' for 6 years does not mean it will not last longer. The warranty is just the amount of time they will cover the repairs. It's a warranty not a guarantee.
hot the information i needed from this video
You need a permit to replace? ????
No drain pan or drain line?
I live in Northern California; I had a neighbor contact me with a home next door to me that he lives in part-time the next-door neighbor informed him his water heater was leaking. I went over and shut the water heater off the water and gas, which is propane. Yesterday, I spoke with him. It cost him over $4000 to get the water heater replaced.
No expansion tank?
Sounds like a fun honeymoon ????????????
What happened to the drip tray for the water heater?
Just some simple feedback, Just write the full year and month out and make it simple… INSTALLED ON Nov 2022 who knows what a random date on a hot water heater means
Updating the gas cock is code. Surprised the old one was left on.
Is there any concern soldering that close to a pro press fitting? They have ORings in them right? Could that cause issues down the road for that connection? (Not a critique, curious because I have them)
Can't believe he used the existing female adapters. And a rhreem. Wow!
He sounds tired. Is he ok?
Nothing like working for a worthless hopeless homeowner
The shade on the I’m going to solder because I can but we could use the push to connect fitting comment is great
Remember the guy that wanted Richard to autograph his hot water heater. Lol
Why is no one putting a pan with a leak detector underneath the tank? Isn't it the best time to do it when the new water heater is installed?
My electric tank water heater was installed in 1999. Never flushed or the metal rod replaced. The furnace is from 1986 and is still going strong. I am lucky.
With all the pre shoot work and time this guy had before filming he couldn’t do some basic math?
He will put the old water heater in his bed to make sure he will get his sleep ????
No chimney liner is a big no no in Minnesota.
I thought the hot water heaters came with safety features to prevent an explosion. How could it explode?
Great job! You can tell that Rich worked his butt off from all the sweat his shirt soaked up at 8:12. I can only imagine how awesome it would have been if he was my dad!
Wonder how he got that water heater. All the water heaters in my area use the Honeywell gas valve that's failed on me several times.
Instant hot water??? ????????♂️