How to lift heavy water heater into attic |
 | Step 1 How to lift heavy water heater into attic
Use some or all ideas to help solve problems.
Steps below illuststrate maximum control over weight of water heater.
Measure attic opening and water heater before starting.
Double check that attic stairway is attached firmly.
Use braces under each stair rung since both people and water heater may be on stair at same time.
Note load rating for any ladder that is used.
Materials: several 2x4s, screws, nails, step ladder
Best with 3 people:, can be done with 2 people.
Water
heater shown is Geo-spring hybrid made by Rheem for GE. Water heater
weighs approx 200 lbs. Dimensions are about 60 x 24 x 21
|
Handle to help lift water heater
If attic height is limited, then make handle short as possible | Make handle using galvanized pipe
Attach handle to pipes on top of water heater.
Tighten pipes with hand > no need to tighten with wrench as long as threads are secure
Handle
will add height to water heater and may not be practical until step 3
below, and may need to be removed in last step if attic is not high
enough.
I do NOT know if water heater warranty is voided by lifting water heater by the pipe nipples, but assume water heater is welded steel and this will work perfectly. |
 Cover attic floor with plywood | Attic floor must be covered with plywood:
1) Support wight of water heater + water
Water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon
40 gallons = 333.6 lbs
60 gallons = 500.4 lbs
2) Support 2 or 3 people needed to lift water heater |
 | Step 2:
Move water heater upward along 2x4 rails.
Use wood blocks screwed down to keep water heater from sliding back down.
> Try setting 2x4 on higher rung.
Difficulty
is that water heater will slide down, and also person cannot stand on
2x4 to climb in attic if problem is encountered.
> Or water heater can be lifted 1 rung at a time.
Difficulty with 1 rung: Keeping water heater under control as it is lifted higher.
Using 2x4s as shown helps solve problem of keeping water heater controlled.
Remember: when going rung-by-rung, it is easier to lift the water heater, but not as easy to lower the water heater. |
 | Step 3:
Support each attic stair with 2x4
Lift water heater to next rung.
Remember:
Once water heater fills attic opening, another person cannot climb up into attic.
Best to have 2 people in attic for steps 3 thru 9 |
 | Step 3a
Men in attic may be strong enough to lift water heater from this point.
Illustration shows low roof at top of attic stair.
Lifting heater requires enough space for heater plus 2 men.
You may want to lay plywood between water heater and stairs to avoid scratching water heater, and to make smooth sliding surface
If water heater cannot be lifted from this position, then add 2 or 3 wood blocks under water heater and move to step 4. |
 | Step 4:
Put 2-3 wood blocks under water heater.
Then raise 2x4s to lift water heater higher.
Put step ladder under 2x4s to stablize water heater |
Important to remember that water heater will not sit well on narrow steps of attic stairway
Diameter of typical water heater is 24" for example.
Attic stair might offer only 3 or 4 inches for holding entire weight of water heater.
Widen step with plywood to control water heater.
This is not necessary if people in attic are strong enough to lift the weight quickly without needing to rest between lifts.
Do not widen top stair or same narrow-step problem occurs on step below | 
Wide stair |
Another
technique: rope through hole in attic rafter, then tie
rope onto handle.
DO NOT depend on rope to carry full weight of water heater!!!
Rope
through rafter will not work to lift the weight. But this
is why the rope can hold a lot of the weight.
Note: It is easy to lift the water heater, but not easy to lower it
back down. | 
Rope through hole in rafter
Do not depend on rope to hold full weight of water heater
|
 | Step 5 and beyond:
Raise 2x4 as high as desired to help move water heater higher, then lift water heater to next stair rung.
Stablize
water heater using 2x4s against side of tank. This step may be
unnecessary with two people in attic, but water heater will definitely
tip heavy to one side while sitting on stairway rung.
Lift water heater to top rung
And then lift water heater into attic |
 | Step 6
Once water heater reaches top stair, it may be easy to lift into attic.
Or the handle may be too high and there is no good way to grab the
water heater.
The qestion to ask is how much room is available for two people plus a
water heater at top of attic stairway.
Tip water heater so two 2x4s can be put under water heater as
illustrated.
These 2x4 will rest on top stair and will hold full weight of water
heater.
Measure and assemble these 2x4s BEFORE starting.
Two people in attic can hold water heater while one person from below climbs stairs and inserts 2x4s
Attach blocks to 2x4s as illustrated.
Blocks will hold both 2x4s together.
The 2x4s can hold full weight of water heater |
 | Step 7
Use a lift 2x4 to move bottom of water heater up onto block #2.
#2 block makes moving heavy weight easier
Move center of water heater past the block
#1 block makes keeps lever 2x4 from falling down |
 | Step 8
After water heater is past the block, push down on the lever 2x4 to lift water heater in attic.
For safety and extra control, double loop a rope around lower part of water heater to pull
Or tip water heater on its side and pull up.
It might be better to keep water heater upright, so it doesn't need to be lifted once inside the attic.
|
 | Step 9
You're there, time for beer. |
Emergency steps: how to turn off water heater
Turn gas OFF
Drain valve
