Tankless water heaters, known as on-demand water heaters, have become a necessity in every household.
Since they are convenient, take up less storage, are easy to maintain, and save a lot of money – many people have switched from conventional water heaters to tankless heaters.
Although the maintenance of a tankless water heater requires no such technical skills, one can easily do that with the right knowledge at home.
But installing a gas tankless water heater is not a piece of cake. It’s not something that can easily be done without seeking professional help – unless you are extremely good at it.
It’s a very challenging task that requires technical skills in hand. If you have basic technical skills and feel handy with the tools, then you can install a gas tankless water heater.
If the case is otherwise and you can’t take up the challenge efficiently, we recommend contacting a licensed technician or plumber to do the job.
If you have planned to do it yourself, this step-by-step guide will make the process less hectic.
Things You Need To Have:
Before initiating the installation process, be sure that you have all the below-mentioned tools and things.
- Pipe Wrench
- Drill/Driver
- Heat-resistant Sealant
- Vent Thimble
- New water lines (if needed)
- Gas line connector
- Hanger Brackets for the Water Lines
- Bucket
- Reciprocating Saw
Got all of them? Let’s proceed with the installation now!
Step-by-Step Guide
Installing a gas tankless water heater all by yourself is a tough task. You must be extremely careful with the pipelines, as a small mistake can cause many problems.
An improperly installed gas tankless water heater can lead to explosions in case of gas leakage in the pipeline.
Moreover, if you do not make a gas venting system efficiently, there’s a huge risk of carbon dioxide leaking into your home.
To avoid all these risks, follow the steps to have a seamless installation experience.
Step 1: Disconnect the Old Unit
If you are going to install a water heater for the first time, then you better skip this step.
Those who are replacing their old conventional water heaters with a new gas tankless water heater must first disconnect their previous unit.
Start by shutting off the water supply from two valves (inlet and outlet) attached to the water heater.
You can use a pipe wrench to loosen the pipe. After that, open the drain valve and drain out any water left inside the pipes. You can use a bucket here, too.
Turn off the gas supply to the water heater and disconnect the gas valve. Now, dispose of it properly by contacting recycling or sanitation departments in your area.
Step 2: Choose the Right Location For New Unit
Gas tankless water heaters need a proper venting system through a pipe. So, choose the place where you can easily install the venting pipe.
You cannot establish a gas tankless water heater in a location where the risk of water splash, moisture, and humidity is huge.
Moreover, reading the manufacturer’s instructions and building codes will also help you select a suitable location for your heater.
Step 3: Upgrade Your Gas Supply
This step comes in the preparatory stage of installing a gas tankless water heater. Gas tankless water heaters usually use loads of BTUs, so you might consider getting a new gas unit or upgrading the previous one.
Check if your current gas supply line would suffice or not. You will have to get a new gas line if it’s not the appropriate size. (Hire a professional for this)
On the other hand, if the existing line is in a suitable size, you can attach it to the tee. After this, use a black iron pipe to connect the gas line to your tankless water heater.
Don’t forget to use the sealant while making gas pipeline connections.
Step 4: Place the Heater on Position
Before attaching the gas and water supply lines, mount the heater to the selected suitable location.
You can either build a mounting box or take a stand to place the heater securely. Make sure the heater is placed four inches away from the wall.
Step # 5: Fix the Water Supply Lines
It’s time to attach the water heating valves to the water supply line. You can use a copper pipe to connect inlet and outlet water pipes to the current water line.
You will also have to install shut-off valves on both lines. Bell hangers will help you secure the pipe against the wall.
Carefully read the manual that came with the heater to properly install the sediment traps and connect water supply lines.
In addition to that, you may also need to install a pressure relief valve. Do it as per the manufacturers’ instructions as well.
After connecting, open the water supply valves and faucets in your house. Let the water run for a while to ensure there’s no pipe leakage and everything is smooth.
Step 6: Install the Vent
After finishing the gas and water pipes, fix the exhaust vent of your tankless water heater. Check the vent shaft on top of your water heating unit and place a connector using silicone sealant.
Secure the connector with the hose clamp. You can take stainless steel or a plastic elbow shaped vent pipe. Get either of them and fix it on the vent.
To make it more secure, use a retaining ring and fit it snugly by folding over the taps.
Choose a spot or point on the wall to make the vent hole outside. Use a drill to bore a hole from inside the chosen place.
Make sure that the pipe reaches the exact vent hole. To make a circle outside the wall, use a vent thimble and a spade bit to bore a 1-inch hole.
After that, make the vent hole by using a reciprocating saw. Remove any sidings and shingles from the vent hole.
Now, place the flange thimble correctly on the outside wall with the help of silicone caulk. Insert the vent hole and secure it with screws.
Get the interior flange and install it from inside. Secure all parts of the tube in place by using tabs. Now, connect the vent pipe section and vent hood from outside.
At last, put the sidings and shingles on their places back.
Step 7: Turn On the Heater
You have already run water down the faucets to check the leaks. But, there might be some air purged in the pipes during the process.
Take it out by running hot water from the taps for some time. After a few minutes, switch off the water and plug in your water heater.
After insulating the hot water pipes by reading the instructions written in the manual, switch on the gas. Your tankless water heater is installed and ready to use.
On every step, you will have to read the manual to properly install the heater. Although you can install your gas tankless water heater by following these steps and the manufacturer’s instructions, you can still hire a professional plumber in case of any confusion or help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Install A Tankless Water Heater Yourself?
Installing a gas tankless water heater requires basic technical skills and efficiency. Hiring a professional is better, as a little mistake can lead to a dangerous explosion or serious damage.
You can install it only when you are familiar with the technicalities of gas and water pipelines and know how to use tools.
Is Installing a Tankless Water Heater An Easy Task?
A tankless water heater is easier to install than a conventional water heater. They are huge and cannot be installed without seeking professional help.
On the contrary, tankless heaters are compact. You can install them effortlessly, especially when you are handy with tools.
Final Thoughts
Tankless water heaters, electric or gas, are extremely convenient and save utility bills. With tankless water heaters, you get hot water right on demand and there’s no fuss of getting cold water in the middle of shower.
The only downside is that you need technical know-how while installing a gas tankless water. In case you don’t have that, we advise you to consult a professional otherwise you might create a big problem for yourself!
