Natural gas heaters are energy efficient and easy to use when it comes to domestic usage. The problem with normal electrical heaters is that they tend to wear out too quickly and require frequent maintenance. They also tend to eat up too much of electric energy and often have energy losses in the process
Yes, the initial cost of installing a gas heater is higher than the typical electric ones but this investment pays off in long run when you don’t have to worry about regular maintenance and energy costs. Moreover, gas heaters are safer in terms of domestic usage, eliminating all the dangers associated with water and electricity. It is very easy to install a natural gas water heater on your own in simple steps, which we have listed below for your better assistance.
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Select the Gas water heater
The first step is to choose the gas heater that would suit the water requirement of your home. It is advised to take an estimate of around 50 gallons water per four persons. Make sure you buy the ones that come with a warranty so you can get them checked if some problem does exit due to a manufacturing fault. Although that is very unlikely, it is better to stay prepared beforehand.
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Check the water lines
Before you install the gas heater, check the water lines and see if they are working properly. There are two pipes in your water tank, one that takes cold water to the heater and one that brings back the hot water. Disconnect the water supply first by turning the valve and then unscrew both of the water pipes to check them for faults. If there are any residuals and sediments in the water lines, have them removed. The debris is usually accumulated in the older pipes, so it’s better to check for the debris built up.
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Installing the Gas heater
After inspecting the pipes, it is time to install the new gas heater. Mount the gas heater in such way that the vent flue can easily reach to the tank. Connect vent pipe to the chimney on top of the gas heater. Connect the fitting according to their color codes. The pipe carrying cold water will be connected with blue-coded fitting and the pipe carrying hot water will be connected to the red-coded fitting. Connect the gas line to the input valve. If your gas heater comes with an inbuilt thermostat, adjust the temperature, as you would like.
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Check for leakage
Once the gas heater is installed, it is time to check for any leaks and defects. First, check the valves supplying hot and cold water for any leakage. Then check the flue for leakages by pouring in soap water into it. Wait for a few minutes to see if bubbles start appearing on the pipe’s surface. If they do start forming up, it confirms that the flue has a leak. The gas water heater has two control knobs to set the heater at the desired setting. Set those knobs according to the setting you desire.
