Why You Shouldn’t Install a Water Heater Yourself

Is Water Heater Installation a DIY Project in Edmonton, AB?

Nothing feels as good as changing the oil on your own car or clearing a clogged drain. It can be rewarding to get a job done on your own when you were on the verge of paying a professional to do it for you. However, this is not always a very good idea, and water heaters are one such case. The professionals at Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating warn homeowners in Edmonton, Alberta, not to install a water heater on their own. There are countless dangers to attempting such a complicated project without professional training and experience. Let’s look at some of the risks of installing your own hot water heater.

Can You Install a Water Heater Safely on Your Own?

When installed by a licensed plumber, a water heater is a perfectly safe part of your home’s plumbing system. When installed incorrectly, a water heater can be a ticking time bomb. When a water heater explodes, it can cause catastrophic damage to a house and its occupants. So, unless you have training and experience installing residential hot water heaters, you don’t want to risk making a mistake while installing a water heater on your own.

Common Mistakes Made During DIY Water Heater Installations

You might be wondering if installing a water heater is really that difficult. At first, it may seem like a simple installation. If you’ve watched an expert plumber, they may have even made it look easy. In reality, water heater installation requires one to consider several factors at the same time carefully. Any single oversight or mistake can result in a serious safety hazard. Here are some of the common things overlooked during DIY water heater installation projects:

Size
If you select a water heater that is too big, you will use more power than you need. If you get a unit with too low capacity, you might not have enough hot water available for a long shower

Location
There are regulations surrounding exactly where you can and cannot install a hot water heater. On top of that, it is easy to install it somewhere that limits the water heater’s performance.

Ignoring the Red Tape
In order to install a water heater in Edmonton, you need a permit just to start the job. On top of that, you need to understand all the regulations surrounding things like ventilation, access requirements, and other characteristics of your unit’s placement.

Failing to Install the Right Drain Pan
Homeowners often install a unit, only to realize afterward that they need a drain pan, which can be a troublesome thing to install after the fact. Just as often, homeowners install a drain pan that does not meet the required width or depth.

Dry Firing
Heating elements in water heaters can easily be damaged if you dry-fire them. This often happens when homeowners fail to fill the tank before firing it up.

TPR Valve and Discharge Tube
Your Temperature and Pressure Release (TPR) valve ensures that your water heater doesn’t explode when the pressure inside it begins to increase. When this is installed improperly, the results can be catastrophic.

Material Selection
Knowing which materials to use can be the difference between success and failure when you install a water heater. Mixing metals can lead to corrosion, and using easy-to-install piping often wears out much quicker than the premium materials used by professional plumbers.

Failure to Secure the Unit
Water heaters can weigh over 100 kilograms, so it’s vital to ensure they don’t tip or fall. When a water heater is not correctly secured, it can topple over, causing damage to the unit and its surroundings.

Vacuum Breakers
Bottom-fed tank water heaters installed in Edmonton are required to have a vacuum breaker. This allows air into the tank in the case of a sudden drop in water pressure. Homeowners often neglect this and find out when their unit is inspected.

Venting
Improper venting of your water heater can allow noxious and fatal fumes to backdraft into your home. Professional plumbers consider things like proper vent capping, pitch angle, and much more to reliably vent carbon monoxide and other fumes out of your home.

Get a Free Water Heater Estimate Today!

So, it’s pretty clear that you shouldn’t install a water heater yourself. When you consider the fact that you have to pay for the unit and installation equipment, the cost of having a professional install your hot water heater is relatively low. We offer free estimates for our water heater installation services in Edmonton. Contact us today for your free water heater installation estimate!