Paulsiu
Member
This weekend, I kept hearing the ejection pump going off, so when I went to investigate, I notice that water was leaking out of the water heater. The gas water heater is a 6 year 50 gal GE dated back 2002. It is past its warranty, but I thought it was a bit unusual for it to break so early in its life.
In any case, this is my first house, and I know only basic principle of how a water heater worked. I contacted my father in law who installed a water heater last year to help. Here's what we did:
1. Turned off the gas.
2. Open the drain valve at the bottom. I suppose I should have used a hose, but the water heater sits right next to the drain hole, so I just put some towels to direct the water. The ejection pump handled the rest.
3. Went to the hardware store and purchased a 50 gal Richmond 9 year. I also got a drain pan.
4. Disconnect the old water heater. It's connected to some copper pipe from the top with a dielectric connector. The gas goes to a cold iron pipe. Unfortunately, the new water heater was too tall and too wide.
5. Replace the cold water pipe with a short flexible gas line hose. Cut the overhead pipe and replaced with a short length of stainless steel flexible water hose, connected using dielectric connector. Check for leaks and reactivate.
One thing I did learn. Instant solder is crap. I think there's not enough solder in it to work. I was able to solder the connector after switching back to the old flux and solder.
I have some question post-installation
1. Is what I am doing to code? I was wondering about the flexible gas and water hose. I just don't have the skill to work with cast iron.
2. I wasn't able to find a really short flexible hose to connect the water, so I have a short one coming from the top with a S bend. Is this OK or do I need to replace it with a straight section?
3. Now I have a drain pan with a hole and no drain pipe. I was thinking of a flexible hose and have it run into the drain hole. Is there a problem with that?
4. I also notice a relief valve on the top. I purchased a drip tube that dumps water into the drain pan, but the instructions shows another pipe that goes directly to the drainage. Is it ok to dump into the pan or should I actually run a line to the drainage?
Thanks!
Paul
In any case, this is my first house, and I know only basic principle of how a water heater worked. I contacted my father in law who installed a water heater last year to help. Here's what we did:
1. Turned off the gas.
2. Open the drain valve at the bottom. I suppose I should have used a hose, but the water heater sits right next to the drain hole, so I just put some towels to direct the water. The ejection pump handled the rest.
3. Went to the hardware store and purchased a 50 gal Richmond 9 year. I also got a drain pan.
4. Disconnect the old water heater. It's connected to some copper pipe from the top with a dielectric connector. The gas goes to a cold iron pipe. Unfortunately, the new water heater was too tall and too wide.
5. Replace the cold water pipe with a short flexible gas line hose. Cut the overhead pipe and replaced with a short length of stainless steel flexible water hose, connected using dielectric connector. Check for leaks and reactivate.
One thing I did learn. Instant solder is crap. I think there's not enough solder in it to work. I was able to solder the connector after switching back to the old flux and solder.
I have some question post-installation
1. Is what I am doing to code? I was wondering about the flexible gas and water hose. I just don't have the skill to work with cast iron.
2. I wasn't able to find a really short flexible hose to connect the water, so I have a short one coming from the top with a S bend. Is this OK or do I need to replace it with a straight section?
3. Now I have a drain pan with a hole and no drain pipe. I was thinking of a flexible hose and have it run into the drain hole. Is there a problem with that?
4. I also notice a relief valve on the top. I purchased a drip tube that dumps water into the drain pan, but the instructions shows another pipe that goes directly to the drainage. Is it ok to dump into the pan or should I actually run a line to the drainage?
Thanks!
Paul