Installing a hot water heating unit is a usual house repairing task. This is not the complicated process and property owners can do the water heater set up themselves. However, this is essential to determine that there is no space for mistakes. This is compulsory to read the recommendations and follow some simple recommendations to prevent negative results. Described below are few suggestions that can provide help to set up hot water heating units completely.

Fitting of water heater

This task should be done appropriately as this could create problems if it is not installed effectively. As the water heating units use electricity or natural gas to make the water hot. So, in both case either gas or electrical the proper installation and maintenance is compulsory. In case you are going to install a gas water heater you should ensure that there is no any leakage of gas while installing the new gas water heating unit. And also avoid the leakage of water from the tank and also from the water supply pipes. If you are going to use an electrical water heating unit than you should keep in mind that the water is not leaking from any part of the water container inside the unit and also prevent it from the electrical short circuits as it could be highly dangerous for you and your family.

The initial step of setting up a new hot water heating unit is to eliminate the current one. Before detaching the old water heater, shut off the water, gas or electricity supply. In case compulsory, use a tool like wrench to unplug the outlet and inlet fittings to eliminate hot water from inside. For the water heating units that use gas, you must have to eliminate the release water pipes that are attached to the set up bonnet. Also eliminate the flue hat from the upper side of the heating unit.

Hot water heating units are heavy in weight. So, this is suggested to the consumers to use the dolly to eliminate the damages at the time of moving or replacing the water heating units.

Fix your latest water heating device in the way that is provides quick access to the linking water pipe joints and controls. Ensure that gas hot water heating units are linked safely to avoid leakage of gas. Keep up an approval space of six (6) inches wide around the edge. Also make sure that there are no inflammable components in the area.

Rotate the outlet and inlet fittings with blue in the cool water inlet also red in the warmth water outlet. Also make sure that the arrow heads or indicating heads on the water pipe point in the way of the discharge. After that, fix the 3rd line to the main supply of water pipe.

Connect the bendable connectors to the outlet and inlet pipes.Set up a shutting off valve to the cool water inlet. Switch on the release valve that manages the warmness and air pressure created in the water heating device.

After managing and installing all the links and connections of the water supply with the water heating device, the last step is to attach the latest water heating unit with the power supply. Relate with the manual to create right electrical relationships.

Open the turn off valve to filling the water in the heating unit. While its container is filling, just open the warmth water taps to eliminate the air from the water supply pipes.For better understanding download complete water heater installation guide .

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How to Install Water Heater

As winter settles in, NorthWestern Energy is offering free home energy audits that can help customers save money on their utility bills.

As part of NorthWesterns E+ program, a team of energy experts will be working in Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley the week of Jan. 27-31. The team has a number of openings for the audits, which provide a detailed report on a homes energy use, weatherization tips and information on energy-efficient practices. In some cases, the experts may, at no charge, install water-heater wraps, low-flow shower heads, low-flow faucet aerators and insulation of hot-water pipes.

The auditors will also inspect natural gas-fueled appliances and perform blower tests to spot areas of air leakage in homes.

Audit appointments are available in Missoula, Lolo, Stevensville, Corvallis, Victor, Florence, Hamilton and Clinton.

The free audits can be scheduled by calling 1-800-823-5995.

Residential customers whose space or hot water heating fuels are delivered by NorthWestern Energy, have not had an E+ audit in the past and whose home is more than five years old are eligible for an on-site energy audit. Other restrictions may apply and funding for the audit program, provided by the Universal System Benefits program, is limited.

Reach the Missoulian newsroom at @missoulian, at newsdesk@missoulian.com or at (406) 523-5240

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NorthWestern Energy to perform free energy audits in Missoula, Bitterroot

HOWTO: Install a Tankless Hot Water Heater Unlimited Hot Water

When I bought my latest house I was already planning on some upgrades to various things. One of these was the hot water heater. The water heater that came with the house was old and would start to run rust-colored water if the faucet was left on long enough. I'd been hearing about the new "tankless" style heaters so I went gathering information about them. Turns out they did what I wanted, using much less energy in their off state since they only heat water as it flows, there are no large reservoir tanks to worry about keeping warmed.

I installed my heater after finding rust and silt in the bath tub when trying to take a bath. I performed a second installation with a friend after she saw how nice the tankless heater worked, and her hot water heater just plain stopped. This article is the result of the lessons learned during both of those installations.

When I went looking for information on installing a tankless hot water heater most places told me simply to find a "qualified professional" and have them do it. Well, I'm a do-it-yourselfer so that wouldn't cut it. I found very little information on installing a tankless heater, thus this guide was born. The following items are the things I wish someone had told me ahead of time.

I am very pleased with my home upgrade to a tankless hot water heater. As you can see in the photos below the space savings were enormous. My utility bill (for natural gas) has dropped by almost a third. I can shower for as long as I want without ever worrying about running out of hot water (or getting rust and sediments out of it.) Another advantage is that the service life on this tankless hot water heater is 20 years. Most of the new hot water heaters I looked at charge a big premium to have a service life of even 12 years, so I will be enjoying my trouble-free hot water for even longer. The installation was challenging, mostly due to my lack of advance knowledge and planning, but it certainly is within the reach of a competent DIY'er. After reading this you have any questions or comments, go ahead and contact me and I will do my best to answer them.

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HOWTO: Install a Tankless Hot Water Heater

Did you know you need a permit from the city to install a new water heater?

What about to replace an air conditioner?

Some Santa Clarita residents may not know that some common household fix-ups and improvements require a city permit before work can begin, meaning they may be unknowingly violating building codes.

Smaller scale City officials have recently noticed an upward trend in such violations.

Although we dont have much in the way of specific facts and figures we know that it is on the increase, especially for the smaller residential projects, said Bill Read, an assistant building official with the city of Santa Clarita.

For example, the city recently checked the number of water heaters that had been disposed locally versus the number of permits people had pulled to install a new water heater.

Considerably less than half of the ones picked up were from people who had actually pulled permits for a new heater, he said.

Read said much of the unpermitted construction is for some smaller-scale residential projects, such as replacing a broken-down air conditioner or furnace.

Though those projects may seem minor, Read said such work could present a safety concern.

The primary focus of most of the building codes that we enforce is safety, Read said.

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Unpermitted construction on the rise

Finn McCuhil

Finn McCuhil is a freelance writer based in Northern Michigan. He worked as a reporter and columnist in South Florida before becoming fascinated with computers. After studying programming at University of South Florida, he spent more than 20 years heading up IT departments at three tier-one automotive suppliers. He now builds wooden boats in the north woods.

Tankless water heaters save money by heating water only as it is used. Rather than keeping a storage tank full of water heated and ready for use, these units heat the water as it is required for immediate use. These units are usually smaller than standard water heaters since they require no storage tank. They do have some special plumbing requirements, so read and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully before and during installation.

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Tankless Water Heater Installation | eHow

Install a new, electric water heater in your home and save energy and money. When installing your water heater, make sure to follow model-specific information, warnings, safety notices and local codes. Consult a qualified professional if in doubt.

Youll need common plumbing tools and pipe joint compound approved for potable water. Youll also need a circuit tester or voltmeter. Most codes require the water heater to be installed in a metal drain pan. See the installation instructions for information about sizing the drain pan and other installation details.

If your house has copper pipes, consider an installation kit with compression fittings that don't require soldering. If your pipes are plastic, youll need connectors / fittings for the specific type of plastic pipes used in your home. Read the instructions for the new connectors before cutting the existing water pipes.

Locate the circuit breaker marked water heater and turn it off. Some homes use fuses, which should be removed. Your water heater may also have a disconnect switch which should also be turned off.

Because circuit breakers can be mismarked, always check the incoming power wires with a voltmeter or circuit tester to make sure the circuit you are working on is off.

Open a hot-water faucet, and let the hot water run until its cool. Then, shut off the cold-water supply to the water heater. Leaving the hot-water faucet open will help the tank drain.

Connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Place the other end of the hose in a drain or outside (you could also use buckets). Open the water heaters drain valve. While the water heater is draining, read the installation instructions that came with your water heater. Disconnect the water and power lines, and remove the old water heater.

Most homes have check valves in the plumbing system and now need a thermal expansion tank installed near the water heater. The expansion tank is attached to the cold-water inlet line. To operate properly, the expansion tank must be pressurized with air. Refer to the expansion tanks instructions for details.

The temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) is an important safety device. It opens to relieve pressure if the water temperature or pressure is too high. Use the new T&P that came with your new water heater. Dont reuse the old T&P valve.

The T&P discharge pipe should be terminated near a floor drain with an air gap of no more than six inches between the end of the discharge pipe and the drain. Some localities require terminating the T&P discharge pipe outside. In cold climates, we recommend using a floor drain. In all cases, follow the codes for your location.

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Install an Electric Water Heater - Lowe's

JACKSON, MS (WLOX) -

As Mississippians brace for freezing temperatures, State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney wants to remind everyone using a fireplace, gas heater, or wood burning stove for warmth to use extreme caution. Chaney warns it could literally mean the difference between life and death.

"I want to repeat the message that space heating poses a significantly greater risk of fire, death and injury than central heating," Chaney said.

More than half of the heating fire deaths in the nation from 2003-2007 involved stationary or portable space heaters.

"If you have to use a wood burning or other type of fueled heating device, that is the time to be most cautious. Also, anyone using a generator needs to make sure it is in a well-ventilated area, away from their home."

"Every home should have a working smoke alarm. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of people dying in home fires in half."

The State Fire Marshal's Office offers these space heater safety tips:

-If you are using a generator, keep it away from the house in a well-ventilated area. Do not put it on a back porch or carport.

-Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.

-Supervise children when a fireplace, fire pit, or other space heater is being used. Use a sturdy, metal screen to prevent contact burns, which are even more common than flame burns.

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Experts: Use extreme caution with space heaters

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Southerners just aren't as prepared for the sort of cold this weekend will usher in.

The first thing you can do is prepare your home.

If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for emergency heating, have your chimney or flue inspected each year. Ask your local fire department to recommend an inspector or find one in the yellow pages of your telephone directory under "chimney cleaning."

Also, if youll be using a fireplace, wood stove, or kerosene heater, install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated. Test them monthly and replace batteries twice a year. All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside.

Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls so your water supply will be less likely to freeze. To the extent possible, weatherproof your home by adding weather-stripping, insulation, insulated doors, and storm windows or thermal-pane windows.

If you have pets, bring them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have access to unfrozen water.

Prepare Your Car for Winter: Have maintenance service on your vehicle as often as the manufacturer recommends. In addition, every fall, do the following:

Have the radiator system serviced or check the antifreeze level yourself with an antifreeze tester. Add antifreeze as needed.

Replace windshield-wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.

Replace any worn tires, make sure the tires have adequate tread, and check the air pressure in the tires.

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As Knoxville awaits single digits, here's how to be prepared

How to Install Tankless Water Heater Plumbing- Update
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How to Install Tankless Water Heater Plumbing- Update - Video

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Larry Parr

Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. For 25 years he wrote cartoons for television, everything from "Smurfs" to "Spider-Man." Today Parr train dogs and write articles on a variety of topics for websites worldwide.

Installing a new hot water heater is generally a much easier job than many homeowners think, especially if the new water heater is of the same type, gas or electric, as the previous heater. If a homeowner is switching from an electric heater to a gas heater or vice versa then electrical or gas lines may need to be installed.

Shut off the water connection to the old hot water heater. This can usually be done by simply shutting off a valve on the water line leading directly to the water heater. Shut off the gas line by turning the knob on the gas line so the knob is perpendicular to the line. Unplug the old heater if it is electrical.

Connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the heater and run the hose to an outside location. Open the drain valve on the heater and allow the water to drain out.

Unscrew the water inlet fitting and the water outflow fitting on the top of your heater using your pipe wrench and your crescent wrench. It will take the use of both wrenches to unscrew the fittings. If you are removing a gas water heater you will need to use both wrenches to unscrew the fitting for the gas line as well.

Remove the flue hat on top of your tank so that the tank is no longer connected to the vent pipe.

Remove the old heater and discard properly as per codes and regulations in your area.Set the new heater in place and level it using shims if necessary. Make sure all controls on the new unit are accessible.

Wrap the threads of the water inlet and the outlet fittings on top of the tank with pipe tape and screw on the water inlet line and the outlet line to the top of your new unit using both of your wrenches. Open the water line to fill the tank. Open several water faucets in the house to allow air to bleed out of the tank as it fills with water.

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How to Install a Hot Water Heater | eHow