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How to install electric water heater |
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✔ Turn breaker OFF Must be a double breaker ✔ Identify breaker amp rating: Look at small numbers printed on end of breaker lever. |
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 Never
assume power is OFFUse non-contact voltage tester on wire to see if power is present. Press button on tester, -if single beep then no power is present. If continuous beep then power is present. Never stand on bare ground, always stand on dry boards, do not hold or touch anything metal when working on water heater that has power, tape tester leads to wood sticks Never touch wet or flooded water heater without testing if power is OFF. Buy: Multimeters at Amazon Buy non-contact voltage tester at Amazon Resource: How to test if water heater electricity is off |
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✔ Figure wire and breaker size: Look at water heater label, located on side of tank Look at Total connected watts: If tank is rated 3800 watts or less, then 12 gauge wire and 20 amp breaker will work Over 3800 watts up to 6000 watts, then use 10 gauge wire and 30 amp breaker Connect wires as illustrated on left Wires can be any color: black-white black-red black-back Wires at top of water heater are usually black-red Wires at top of water heater can connect to either wire coming from breaker box. Do NOT turn power ON until tank is filled with water Resources: Figure-Volts-Amps-Watts-for-water-heater Figure wire and breaker size |
Top
connection |
Top and side
connections |
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✔ Safety
switch NOT mandatory on residental installations Power shut off is handy safety feature. Make sure power is OFF when working on water heater Use for vacation shut off Can use fused or non-fused. Having breaker and fuse on same line is OK Buy: 30 amp safety disconnect/ no fuses/ raise-lower handle for disconnect 30 amp fusable disconnect Resources: Water heater is tripping breaker How to replace circuit breaker Choose correct wire and breaker size Figure volts amps and watts for water heater See inside main breaker box |
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✔ Flexible
connections Buy: from my affiliate links Stainless steel flexible connection at Amazon Sharkbite water heater connection Water heater installation kit Resources: Water heater sizing calculation .pdf Water usage data .pdf |
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8.4 lbs per gallon |
✔Tank
can sit drectly on any floor strong enough to hold weight of heater
& weight of
water 40 gallon water heater filled with water can weigh about 450+ lbs Typical water heater weighs 100-150-200 lbs Water weighs 8.4 lbs per gallon Electric water heater can be installed directly on structural floor;: 3/4' plywood, cement, carpet, linoleum, tile Avoid installing directly on hardood floor because of potential water damage to floor. Do not install water heater on non-structural particle board or fabricated waferboards Electric water heater can be installed inside any rain-proof room, including small closet No air intake or vent pipe needed. Exception tankless electric, and hybrid electric |
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✔Suggest: Set water heater inside drip pan Drip pan saves damage, but can intefere with drain hose connection on electric water heater Connect 3/4" pipe to drip pan connection. Run to nearby floor drain Inspect water heater each 6 months for water leak  See drip pan installation Buy: Water heater drip pans at Amazon Buy: Water detectors at Amazon Auto-shut-off valve at Amazon |
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Leave room for tank drain Some day the tank will need to be drained. Make sure there is space so hose can be attached to drain Resources: How to replace water heater drain valve What if tank will not drain |
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✔Identify Hot and Cold pipes Top of tank has red and blue marks or H and C marks for Hot-Cold pipe connections Hot and cold cannot be reversed, or tank will not function correctly Shut off is normally located on cold side Insulate pipes completely Heat traps can be made by stopping the upward direction of pipes, and turning pipes downward Heat traps save a few dollars per year... more savings if tank temperature is set higher Bonding: Some water heaters will benefit from a ground wire connected to both pipes and to ground screw Resource: Why you need ground wire |
 Heat trap nipples can clog and cause noise/ di-electric |
 Di-electric pex-lined nipples allow free flow of water and make no noise |
✔ Use
di-electric nipples: Factory-installed
heat trap nipples can cause noise and clogs Replace with di-electric nipples Hard water, plumbing repairs, street repairs, water main repairs can cause debris to clog heat trap Diagram above shows how to make your own heat traps. Di-electric prevents electrolytic corrosion or electrolysis from 2 different metal pipes Use 6 wraps teflon tape on threads Buy: Dielectric nipples at Amazon Resources: Low Hot Water Pressure How to replace short nipple New water heater making noise |
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✔ Use
brass pipe, elbow and nipple when connecting copper pipe to
galvanized pipe Save cost of plumbing repairs Prevent electrolytic corrosion/ deterioration of galvanized pipes and clogs Use 6 wraps teflon tape on threads Buy: Brass nipples at Amazon Brass elbows at Amazon |
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XX Stainless pipe,
elbow and nipples corrode in softened water Use 6 wraps teflon tape on threads Buy: Stainless nipples at Amazon Stainless elbows at Amazon |
 TP temperature pressure release valve |
✔ TP
overflow tube runs down to at least 6
inches of floor. TP VALVE CODE Overflow tube must be same diameter as valve discharge connection. Do not downsize pipe into smaller pipe. Overflow tube can have maximum 4 elbows and 30 feet length. End of overflow tube cannot be threaded. Tube cannot be lower than top edge of drip pan. Tube must terminate 6" above open drain. TP valve can draw water back into water heater if overflow tube is under water. Do not cap off TP valve or obstruct overflow tube Overflow tube cannot have shut off valve installed, or any obstructive valve TP valve is first line of safety for water heater. TP valve releases water when pressure or temperature is too high, and prevents possible water heater explosion Buy: TP valves: Replacement TP valves at Amazon Teflon tape at Amazon Resources: How to replace TP valve TP valve code |
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✔ Fill tank with water Open bathtub tap on hot side. When water runs fuull stream, then water heater is full Illustration shows gate valve and ball valve Rotate valve counter-clockwise to turn water ON ✔ Check for leaks/ & re-inspect periodically Buy: ball valve/ water 3/4" ball valve at Amazon Brass ball valve Buy: Ball valve/ gas Gas ball valve |
 Tank must be full of water Test elements |
✔ Tank
must be full of water -or- elements burn out Fill water heater tank before turning circuit breaker ON, . Turn water ON. Open bathtub spout. Wait for full stream of water. Turn bathtub OFF. Lift TP lever for moment to bleed last of air from tank. Tank is full of water. Turn circuit breaker ON. Resource: How to test element |
 Automatic shut off valve |
✔ Prevent flood damage/ automatic
shut off valve Savings undetermined/ save massive damage to home Shut off water automatically when leak is detected Valve ataches to water line... detector sits on floor... electric power does not rely on batteries Buy: Water detectors at Amazon Automatic water heater leak shut off at Amazon Resource: Leaking water heater/ steps |
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✔Tank must be full of water BEFORE power is ON
✔ Push breaker fully OFF and then fully ON If breaker is faulty, more wires to another same-size circuit breaker Resources: Troubleshoot new electric water heater Water heater is tripping breaker How to replace circuit breaker Choose correct wire and breaker size Figure volts amps and watts for water heater New water heater making noise |
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✔ Push reset button located on upper thermostat, If water heater does
not
make bubbly fizzing sound Put ear against tank and listen for bubbly fizzing sound ✔ Expect 19 gallon hot water per hour of heating 240 volt 4500 watt element heats |
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✔ Suggest: Wrap
water
heater with insulation Save $2-8 per month Do not cover TP valve or discharge tube Insulation blanket can cover entire electric water heater, including electric wire Leave access for drain valve Marathon water heater manual says not to cover top of tank Buy: Water heater insulation blankets at Amazon Resources: See illustration Dept of energy resource |
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✔ Suggest: Insulate
pipes Save 25 cents - 1 dollar per month x 30 years = $90-180 Insulate pipes at water heater and rest of house Water pipes lose heat. When colder water enters tank, it must be heated more. Pipes on top of tank draw heat out of water heater. Tank runs more. Gas water heater: Insulation must stay away from top of heater and vent pipe. Electric water heater: Insulation can cover all pipes and top of water heater Buy: Pipe insulation at Amazon |
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Support
the economy: Buy water heaters from my associate links: 50 gallon Gas water heaters at Amazon 40 gallon gas water heaters at Amazon 50 gallon Electric water heaters at Amazon 40 gallon electric water heaters at Amazon Hybrid / heat pump/ water heaters at Amazon Resources: How to install gas water heater How to install electric water heater Troubleshoot gas water heater Troubleshoot electric water heater Point of use water heaters |
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Resource: Compare box timers DPDT timers Intermatic Control water heater w/ Z-wave |
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Resource: Intermatic control centers: and parts Digital control centers and parts Tork control centers and parts Subpanels All control centers and parts Enclosures |
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Recirculation systems |
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