Water heaters have become a basic part of our lives, especially in summers, but most people are confused and ask: how to wire a water heater? We don’t have to be professional in its installation and wiring process. It is quite easy if you have all the essential tools.
So if you can get it done by yourself at the comfort of your home, there is no need to pay extra for installation and wiring. Sometimes our water heaters after getting old stop working properly.
We are unable to make it work and it becomes immediate to replace it with the new one. Before installation of the new one so we need to replace the older one first. The new water heater will possibly support us for many years so we won’t have to repeat the process again. But before buying a new one, a person must go through all the categories to find out the best according to the needs.
Replacement Of The Old Water Heater
So the actual first step is getting rid of the older water heater. The replacements need some tools like a wrench, cutter, tester, hoses, screwdriver, and sandpaper also. As you have to disconnect the heater from the electricity, so make sure that there is no electric source by turning off all the electric supplies before you start. The next step is emptying the heater tank when you feel cold water has come. Now again with the help of a tester, you will make sure of any electric source and don’t take this for granted.
Disconnect all the wires by labeling technique as you shouldn’t get confused about which wire you will be using for the new water heater and in fact, you can take a picture also. When disconnecting the pipes, have a look if they are made of copper then you will have to cut them. But if you think the condition of older pipes is fine, you can go with them instead of attaching the new ones. After you have done, now moving it needs something like a wheelbarrow as it will help do so.
Steps To Wire A Water Heater
The wiring process depends on the type of the heater also as the number of wires and quality depend on the amp of the water heater. Follow the steps below to learn how to wire a water heater.
Step #1. Preparations for the new one
As you have cleared out the place, now you will clean it thoroughly as the place or a room should be clean enough for proper functioning and installation. Before the installation, make sure that the water heater is suitable for all the connections e.g pipes.
Step #2. Sanding the pipes
We can’t fit the pipes into the new one unless we sand them appropriately. They require proper sanding until they start shining.
Step #3. Wiring the new water heater
Firstly, you will remove all the casings on the junction box. of a new water heater and find out the green-colored screw by which you will attach the ground wire. Remove all the white and black wires. Now cut the knockout with pliers. Wire connectors will come to connect the wire and twisting the cables will help in the process. By labeling and taking photos, connect all the wires before closing the junction.
Step #4. Connecting the pipes
Connecting the pipes is also a major task. Attach the pipes according to the inlets. For instance, you will attach the cold water inlet to the cold water supply and vice versa for the hot pipe. Still, if you are having any difficulty with the piping system, you can have a look at the old water heater pipes. This will guide you. Hoses are best to attach with the heater nipples because of their flexibility. Once the attachments are complete, turn on the water supply to check if there is any leak in any pipe. If you find, mend them.
Step #5. Valve installation
This step is not so complicated. You will install a discharge pipe to the new water heater which should be 5 inches from the bottom. This valve is for temperature and pressure management so it is an essential part. But the valve should be according to your water heater. So fix it with a screw and measure the distance. Replace the valve if it is not proper. After that, you will need an adapter and cover the threads with plumbing tape.
Step #6. Switching the power on
Now is the time for testing whether you have done the task rightly or not. The power supply will do the confirmation. It will need 220V of power, a 30 amp circuit breaker, and a 10\2 cable. Fill up the hot water in the tank and turn on the power. Never turn On the water heater when the tank is not full of water. On turning on, if the water is getting hot, congratulation you succeeded. But if it doesn’t work, turn it off and check out the wiring again. It may also be a good idea to read about sizing a new water heater.
It’s A Wrap!
Now we have discussed all the steps for wiring and there is no confusion for people asking how to wire a water heater. But if they will make a little mistake, the whole process can go wrong and even be dangerous. So be precautious enough to avoid any damage. It may be helpful to read about how to vent a water heater and when to replace a water heater.