Water heater installation requires a lot of know-how. There are a lot of mistakes that can be made when installing. This video discusses the most common mistakes that an expert plumber sees when inspecting DIY water heater installations.
The first mistake is simply getting the wrong unit for your needs. Make sure to get the right size and model of water heater based on how much water you use and the size of your home.
During installation, fittings need to be soldered to pipes but you shouldn’t do this when the pipes are already installed to the top of the water heater. Solder the fittings on the floor or other surfaces away from the heater so you don’t melt plastic fittings inside.
Attach a discharge to the relief valve to ensure proper safety measures. This discharge tube will expel hot water if the pressure or temperature of the water in the heater is too hot. You need to put in a dish at the bottom of the heater to collect this water.
If you’re installing an electric water heater, do not turn on the power to it until it is completely filled with water. The heating elements of electric water heaters are designed to be submerged in water. If they aren’t and are turned on, they will be damaged.
Make sure there is no air in the tank before you turn it on. Run a faucet until you get a smooth flow of water and then turn on the heater.
To learn more, click on the video in the link above.