How to Replace a Gas Hot Water Tank

For many homeowners, the thought of replacing a gas hot water tank may seem daunting. Replacing the tank, however, is relatively simple and straightforward and generally takes less than an hour.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Medium crescent wrench
• Pliers
• WD-40
• Garden hose
• Thread tape

1. Turn off the water inlet to your hot water tank. The water inlet is the cold water line that enters the top of your tank. There should be a wagon-wheel knob that you can turn clockwise by hand to shut off the water to your tank. If necessary, spray WD-40 on the wheel to get it to turn.

2. Shut off the gas to your heater tank. The gas line is the flex line at the bottom of your tank. Follow this line until you find a handle for turning off the gas. The handle needs to be turned 1/4-turn clockwise until the handle is perpendicular with the gas line. The handle should turn by hand, but if it is difficult to turn use your pliers and spray WD-40 on the connection, if necessary.

3. Connect a garden hose to the water outlet valve at the bottom of your tank. The valve should be easy to get to and your hose should screw onto it easily. Once your hose is attached, move the end of the hose to a place where your tank can drain. Now turn the collar around the outlet valve counterclockwise until water begins draining out of the tank and out through the hose. The collar should turn by hand, but, if necessary, open your pliers wide and use them to help turn the collar.

4. Loosen the nuts connecting the cold water line and the hot water line to the top of your tank. Use your crescent wrench to loosen the nuts until you can remove both lines.

5. Loosen the nut connecting the gas line near the bottom of your tank. Turn the nut counterclockwise to loosen it until you can remove the gas line.

6. Lift up on the vent pipe that sticks up from the center of the top of your tank and vents to the outside. Wiggle the vent until it comes lose and then either lift it out of the way or disconnect two of the pieces of the vent pipe (they will simply pull apart).

7. Remove the old tank. This may involve tilting and "walking" the tank out, or you may be able to lift the tank out, depending on how large the tank is and the position it is mounted. It is often advisable to get help removing the old tank and putting the new tank in place as tanks can be heavy.

8. Set the new tank in place and reverse the order of steps to install the new tank. You may want to wrap plastic joint tape around the threads of the pipes before you re-attach them to the tank.

Tips & Warnings

• Check all connections to make sure there are no leaks.
• Check the gas line for leaks by putting a small amount of water with dish soap in it on the connection--if there is a leak bubbles will appear in the dish soap.

References

• How to Replace a Gas Hot Water Tank