Water Heater Installation

Water heater installation and safety is regulated by many international and local plumbing codes, in addition the manufacturers’ instructions which should always be followed. Storing hot water in a tank may cause an explosion therefore the water heater installation should be left to licensed plumbers who are trained to implement all the required safety features in accordance to the code. When installing gas water heaters a special precaution needs to be taken regarding venting combustion fumes, as well as properly sizing and installing the gas supply lines. Electric water heater installation also requires special safety considerations regarding sizing breakers, electrical wiring, and grounding these units. The most common mistakes when an unlicensed person installs a water heater is the omission of installing discharge piping for the temperature/pressure relief valve, or properly anchoring the supply lines.