Woke up this morning to find little hot water and a puddle of water in my basement. Turns out the water heater/boiler is leaking. Anybody know how easy it is to replace or is this a professional job?

Relatively New Home Owner seeking advice. Thanks!

 

For what it's worth....
If you know how to sweat copper pipes, it's certainly within a do-it-yourselfer's capabilities. If you don't even know what that means, you'll need to have someone install it. I don't recall that delivery and installation, from Sears for example, was all that much (under $100, I think, though I could be mistaken). I picked up my last water heater about 4 years ago with my dad's station wagon, and had it installed by my plumber, and I think he charged $65.


JonasM

 

It's not too bad a job if you can find a water heater that is the same size and shape as your old one, and you are any good with a torch and solder. The hardest part is removing your old one - sometimes it's a bear to get all of the water out and they can get very heavy. The other thing to watch out for is a leaking shut-off valve. If you shut the water off to the supply pipe, there can be no leaking otherwise your will have a really tough time soldering the pipe. Some people use compression fittings for the water hookups, but I don't trust them - I like permanent (soldered) joints. If you have never done any sort of plumbing before, maybe you should leave it to a professional.

 

Before you replace the water heater - I'd eliminate a couple of other possibilities...

do you have hot water? If so, obviously the heater is working, and the water could be either a leaking pipe or from the pressure release valve - (there should be a short pipe that comes out of the tank near the top with a valve that allows one to purge air out of the tank...).

If you have a "heater/boiler" as your original post stated, then your hot water tank is in a loop, and merely stores the hot water - does not heat it. Then the problem could be with your boiler... is the house/apt warm? (assuming of course you have hot water heat ...). The boiler will also have a pressure release valve, that will at times spew a bit of water...

Hot water heaters can last only a few years with bad water - lots of minerals, etc. Some times it may also just be a bad heating coil, (some tanks have a bottom and a top heating coil, depending on size, etc...). Usually the bottom coil goes first, as deposits build up around it.

I'm no plumber, but familiar with hot water and boiler systems in the houses I build... I'll help if I can!

 

thanks, for the info. I am do it yourself kind of person. But plumbing is definetly not my strong suit. Will have to check everything when I get home tonight.

 

Do you rent it? Many people rent their water heaters from the gas company, many may not even know it. Look on your bill. If there is a rental change then call them and tell them to replace it. Check your bill.

Otherwise, write down the particulars and go to home depot and get one the same. If it's gas you need to have a gas contractor do the hookup but you can probably attach the plumbing yourself. You can save some $$$ buy buying it at HD but your going to need a plumber most likely.

 

In this part of Texas, you are required by Code to hire a Certified Plumber/Fitter (certified for installation of gas appliances) to install a natural gas or propane fired water heater. Of course that's the law and we're Texans , so its not enforced.

Also, as a Professional Engineer, I should also note that 220V hook-ups (typical for electric water heaters) typically also require professional hook-up by a licensed electrican.

Try not to kill yourself.

Regards,

Al

 

I installed mine without problem.. it is plumbing, not rocket science. Not only are the licensed installers expensive but they may require you to meet building codes that were not enforced when the last one was installed and that can be very expensive. BTW, you do not HAVE to sweat pipes, there other connectors.

 

I agree with Chris about it not being rocket science; even I have done a couple myself. I even sweated the joints.

I was just cautioning about getting cross-wise with the local codes or authorities. I tried to sell a rent house that I had purchased years earlier from a "handyman". The Buyer's Inspector tore into most of the repairs/upgrades and I had to redo a lot to get it sold. Chris is right about opening up a can of worms if you start trying to get an older home up to code.

Al

 

Call a plumber, already!