Before you can install that fancy new hot water heater you just bought, you need to disconnect and safely remove your old one. While it may seem like a daunting task for some, it’s fairly easy when you know what you’re doing. 

B&D Industries, Inc. is one of the best heating and cooling companies in New Mexico. From HVAC solutions and 24/7 emergency plumbing to electrical troubleshooting, our dedicated team of professionals will work with you to find the best solution for you in every project we undertake. Read our article below to learn how to remove your hot water heater.

What is a Hot Water Heater?

Water heating is a heat transfer process that uses an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. For residential and commercial properties, hot water heaters use heating elements such as electric heating burners and gas burners that are found at the bottom of their tanks. This heated water travels through your main water line into your home. Just before the water heater, the line splits off into two pathways that make up your property’s water intake system.

When you turn on your hot water tap. Cold water passes through valves and travels through the dip tube to enter the heater tank. The heating element at the bottom of the tank will heat the water according to your thermostat setting. Eventually, the hot water will rise to the top of the tank to be shot through the heat-out pipe and into your faucet or wherever you require hot water.

How Do You Remove Your Hot Water Heater?

While these first few steps are fairly simple, they’re extremely important. You will need to:

  • Turn off your water heater: Find the gas control valve on your hot water heater, and turn the knob to the OFF position.
  • Turn off the main gas supply: Locate the gas line to your old water heater. This will generally be a copper pipe that comes directly out of the wall and connects directly to your old water heater. Simply tighten the knob with your wrench until it can no longer be turned.
  • Break the gas line at the union: You should see a large and small nut fairly close to each other on your hot water heater’s gas line. The union should be pretty close to where you just turned off the main gas supply. Use your adjustable wrench to tighten down the small nut while you use another wrench to loosen the large nut. Pull the two pipes away from each other.
  • Cap your gas line: Wrap your gas line with teflon tape and secure it with a gas cap.
  • Disconnect gas from the hot water heater control valve.
  • Turn on a hot water faucet and run until cool.
  • Drain your water heater with a garden hose: On the front of your old water heater, there should be a short spigot coming out of the tank. This is called the drain valve. Connect the garden hose to the water heater’s drain valve. Place the other end of the hose into a bucket.
  • Turn off the cold water supply.
  • Open your drain valve.
  • Disconnect temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve.
  • Remove the upper vent pipe from the water heater.
  • Disconnect water pipes.

Once you’ve disconnected everything, you can dispose of the heater and replace it with your new one. Simply connect everything you just removed to the new hot water heater.

Having Trouble with Your Water Heater? Contact the Professionals! 

B&D Industries, Inc. is the go-to for all plumbing issues in New Mexico. For more than 30 years, we’ve worked every day to earn our reputation as a premier plumbing service provider for our dedication to every project that comes our way. We always find the solution that works best for you and are honest in every step of our servicing. Contact us today to speak to a member of our team, or schedule an appointment online.