Replace an Electric Water Heater

About This Guide

Six hours. One Saturday. Cold showers Friday night, ## hot water Saturday night.

An electric water heater is the single most DIY-able major appliance in a house. The connections are simple (two 240V wires, two water lines, one drain line), the plumbing is standard, and the electrical is straightforward — but the combination of 50 gallons of hot water and 240V in the same fixture means the sequence matters.

This book walks the complete replacement:

• ✓ Diagnosis: is it actually the heater, or the thermostat?
• ✓ Sizing the replacement (gallons, height, width, connection
• ✓ location).
• ✓ Shutoff and drain (the step that takes the longest).
• ✓ Disconnecting supply lines and electrical.
• ✓ Getting the old tank out (always heavier than you think).
• ✓ Positioning the new tank.
• ✓ Plumbing the supply lines with flex connectors.
• ✓ Wiring the 240V supply.
• ✓ The T&P valve and drain pan — code requirements.
• ✓ Filling and purging air (the step that fries elements if
• ✓ skipped).
• ✓ Energizing and testing temperature.

Written for the homeowner with basic electrical and plumbing experience. If you've replaced a faucet and changed a 240V circuit breaker, you have the skill to do this.