Water heater/shut off valve project

Knight

Knight

Well-known Member
At my age I think this will be the last of what I'm capable of doing. Getting that 145lb. water heater in place was a struggle. Started last week completed Today. Had the tools needed so cost of water heater & miscellanious was all needed.

Water Heater $600.00
20ft. copper pipe $109.
Fittings $74.00
Silver solder/flux kit $36.00
total $819.00

pic. #1. Old heater & shut off
pic. #2. New heater & shut off
pic. #3. Waste left over. 5 cuts to get connections joints to right length.

As an extra for convenience I modified the hot water delivery to one of our showers. I put a Tee in the hot water delivery line. I don't know how our home was plumbed, but for hot water piped thu a 1/2" copper pipe to get to the shower it took whated seemed like forever. Now with a short 3/4" supply to the 1/2" delivery side to the valve it takes only seconds & with great pressure.
 

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What do you estimate you saved doing it yourself? I think I paid thousands when I had a company replace my hot water heater several years ago (when I owned a house). I remember they threw in a new garbage disposal (in kitchen sink) for free, so pretty sure I grossly overpaid for the water heater.
 
Wow! Awesome!!! Just goes to prove that seniors still are capable of doing stuff. LOL.
I wish I had your skills!!! Are you a plumber?

Yea, me too. Curious as to what you saved by doing it yourself. I estimate $600-$900. Labor is expensive! And since I am female, and unskilled at this kind of labor, I have to hire someone to do those man chores. Occasionally, I find someone who is handy and willing to do the task.

When I got my new water heater, it was an Energy Efficient too. Afterwards, my electric bill dropped some. It was hard to believe. It's wonderful how they make things more efficient.
---Did you see those flexible water pipes? I think they call them Plex. Although I read they are strong, I always imagine them drying out and cracking, or bursting a whole.

I like your idea of going from ½” to ¾” piping. I have mild water pressure in my house. I will have to keep that in mind, if I need to replace my heater again. Hopefully not, but if I do, then I might try the larger pipe idea.

Great job! Something you can be proud of!
 
HoneyNut said:
What do you estimate you saved doing it yourself? I think I paid thousands when I had a company replace my hot water heater several years ago (when I owned a house). I remember they threw in a new garbage disposal (in kitchen sink) for free, so pretty sure I grossly overpaid for the water heater.
Click to expand...
Home depot quote was $2,100.00. And that didn't include the T I put in to reroute to the shower we use the most. The original 1/2" line didn't have a lot of pressure & took forever to deliver hot water. Probably save over 1000 gallons now.

Part of the lower water pressure is due to an inline whole house water filter & water softener I put in last year.
 
Michael Z said:
Good work! Me, I shy away from gas fittings! I think I might tackle the rest of the project though. It generally takes me a few attempts on any type of plumbing - not a great thing when dealing with a gas line!
Click to expand...
Michael Z said:
Good work! Me, I shy away from gas fittings! I think I might tackle the rest of the project though. It generally takes me a few attempts on any type of plumbing - not a great thing when dealing with a gas line!
Click to expand...
Thought about that before starting project. This works

Rectorseal 25631 4-Ounce No. 5 Pipe Thread Sealant , Yellow , 4 fl. oz.​

Bubble tested with soapy water. I'll keep the left over for awhile then toss it since it's not expensive.
 
Vicky said:
Wow! Awesome!!! Just goes to prove that seniors still are capable of doing stuff. LOL.
I wish I had your skills!!! Are you a plumber?

Yea, me too. Curious as to what you saved by doing it yourself. I estimate $600-$900. Labor is expensive! And since I am female, and unskilled at this kind of labor, I have to hire someone to do those man chores. Occasionally, I find someone who is handy and willing to do the task.

When I got my new water heater, it was an Energy Efficient too. Afterwards, my electric bill dropped some. It was hard to believe. It's wonderful how they make things more efficient.
---Did you see those flexible water pipes? I think they call them Plex. Although I read they are strong, I always imagine them drying out and cracking, or bursting a whole.

I like your idea of going from ½” to ¾” piping. I have mild water pressure in my house. I will have to keep that in mind, if I need to replace my heater again. Hopefully not, but if I do, then I might try the larger pipe idea.

Great job! Something you can be proud of!
Click to expand...
I used these. A little more expensive since I want long term problem free install

HOME-FLEX​


3/4 in. FIP x 3/4 in. FIP x 15 in. Copper Water Heater Connector​


Don't want to be grim but I want to leave my wife with a worry free home as I possible can.
 
Knight said:
Home depot quote was $2,100.00. And that didn't include the T I put in to reroute to the shower we use the most. The original 1/2" line didn't have a lot of pressure & took forever to deliver hot water. Probably save over 1000 gallons now.

Part of the lower water pressure is due to an inline whole house water filter & water softener I put in last year.
Click to expand...
Funny, I installed the same 4 years ago and have not lost any pressure or volume. Of course, most of my main lines are 3/4" with 1/2" branching off.
 
stretch5881 said:
Funny, I installed the same 4 years ago and have not lost any pressure or volume. Of course, most of my main lines are 3/4" with 1/2" branching off.
Click to expand...
For me the pressure drop wasn't a big deal & not really that much. But my wife wanted what she was used to & as the saying goes happy wife happy life.

The water lines are 1/2" so my thinking was.

The T'ed short distance now a little less than 20ft. delivers straight from the water heater to the valve. Reducing line travel & restriction by the reduction to 1/2" a few inches ahead of the valve. I'm not a plumber nor am I an engineer. I Googled

AI Overview

Yes, according to the principle of inverse proportionality, if the volume of water is increased, the water pressure will increase; this is because when there is less space for the water molecules to move around, they exert more force on the container walls, resulting in higher pressure.

My wife is happy now.

My plumbing experience comes from when I worked for 84 lumber company many years ago. To make extra money different contractors would hire me part time as a helper. I learned a lot from plumbers, roofers &carpenters.
 

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