How to Install a Gas Tankless Water Heater

Everyone wants hot water--hot water for showers, for washing dishes, for washing clothes, even for cooking. But that hot water comes at a price, because while it is not in use it is continually being heated in a storage tank. Instead of paying to heat water that is not used, consider installing a gas tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters are connected to the plumbing pipes themselves and heat the water as it passes through the pipes moments before it reaches a faucet. This saves money, because only water that is actually used is heated.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drywall anchors
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Channel lock-style slip-joint pliers
• Standard pliers or open-ended wrenches

1. Shut off the water and gas supply. If there is a cut-off valve upstream of the water supply pipe that the tankless water heater will connect to, use it. If not, then shut the supply of water to house off at the street in the water meter box. Shut the gas off at the meter, which is usually located on side of the house where the gas line enters the building.

2. Remove the cover from the water heater and screw the body of the water heater to the wall. If the screw holes provided in the water heater don't line up with wall studs, mark the holes on the wall. Move the water heater and insert plastic drywall anchors on the marks. Replace the water heater on the wall and screw into the drywall anchors.

3. Connect the water supply to the water heater. Connect the water pipe that supplies water to the fixture to be serviced by the water heater to the inlet on the water heater that says "supply" using channel lock-style slip-joint pliers. The inlet will usually have a blue plastic washer on it.

4. Connect the hot water line to the plumbing fixture. Attach the hot water supply pipe to the inlet marked hot water using channel lock style slip-joint pliers. This inlet will usually have a red plastic washer on it.

5. Hook up the gas line to the hot water heater. Attach the gas supply to the gas nozzle on the tankless hot water heater and light the pilot light. Since this connection is much smaller than the water connection, standard pliers or open-ended wrenches can be used.

6. Turn the gas and water supply to the hot water heater back on. Test the hot water and adjust the thermostat on the water heater until the hot water reaches the desired temperature, and then replace the cover.