When you come back home after a tiring day at work and have a hot shower, your water heater is being tested. It’s the unsung hero of your home in many ways. You don’t realize how important it is your electric water heater until it breaks.
Or you may see a flood in your utility room or experience a drop in new hot water heater’ pressure which definitely raises an alarm. Around 8% of homeowners across the US replace their water heaters each year. How long does it take to replace a hot water heater?
Signs You Need a Water Heater Replacement
Picture this: you just jumped into the shower and your water pressure is low. Not only that but your water takes forever to heat up. The nice hot shower you were looking forward to turns into a freezing race to rinse off. The cause? Your water heater is on its last legs.
You might also see unexpected leaks coming from your water heater. You might walk into your utility room one day to discover a small flood around your water heater—definitely not a good sign. Other warning signs that you need to replace your water heater are poor quality of the heating, frequently fluctuating temperature and age of the appliance overall.
You should get roughly 8-12 years out of a well taken care of water heater before it starts slacking off – at which point start shopping for new systems. Regardless of when or why you need a new system installed, there are some things that everybody needs to know starting with how long does it really take to install it for somebody like me (or them) to do this kind of job themselves versus hiring professionals who know what they’re doing?
What to Expect When Having Your Water Heater Replaced
Always hire licensed professionals when replacing any home appliances including heaters as they can be dangerous if installed incorrectly since they are not just any old thing sitting around waiting for someone to notice them.
Don’t worry if you need to do laundry, dishes or bathe a child – within a few hours after installation everything will be back up and running (literally) with little interruption to your daily routine.
Before scheduling an install (unless it’s an emergency), expect the licensed professional/insured plumbers to first come out for consultation purposes before setting up a day/time frame that works best for both parties involved so as not cause inconvenience/unnecessary stress on anyone’s part.
How Long Does it Take to Replace a Hot Water Heater?
There are several things that can affect the length of time required for tank installation here, such as what type you have now versus what kind is being brought in. If you use one with higher capacity tanks then this may take longer than usual; likewise if there were issues encountered during removal process which slowed things down further still.
Generally speaking though average duration is between 2-4 hours although sometimes less depending on circumstances – but plan accordingly just in case!
After your new plumbing system is set up, keep in mind that it may take up to 30-80 minutes for hot water to produce. You do not have to worry about what will happen with your old water heater. Your plumber will properly dispose of it.
What to Expect from the Water Heater Installation Appointment
Here’s a step-by-step description of the water heater installation process.
1) Consultation
The first thing you need to do is talk to a licensed plumber who will be able to tell what type of water heater would work best for your home. This can be done over the phone but often takes place in person, and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes or so. While discussing tankless water heater installation cost is important at this stage, there are many other things that can be asked too.
2) Preparation
Before the installation starts, there are a few factors and certain preparations that need to made by you as the homeowner; these simple steps help make sure that everything goes smoothly and quickly once your licensed plumber arrives:
- Clear out any clutter or debris around where the unit will go so they have easy access
- Secure pets in another part of the house where they won’t get in the way
- Make sure there is an unobstructed path from where they park their vehicle(s) (or enter through doors) all the way back into whichever room need work done – this includes moving other items such as furniture if necessary
- Measure any doorways or stairwells leading up/down which might cause problems getting equipment through later on if not wide enough for larger items like heaters being replaced/relocated etc.
3) Installation
How long will it take for our licensed plumber to get your unit up and running? The answer depends on the type of water heater you choose, such as tankless or conventional water heaters. Additionally, the location of the water heater plays a role in the installation time. For instance, if the technician needs to navigate multiple flights of stairs or access a less convenient area of your home, the installation of a gas water heater may take longer.
- Tank-to-tank setup: If replacing gas-powered or electric water heaters with tanks that have them already, then expect two-three hours total time spent by plumbing professional. This includes 45 minutes-an hour disconnecting old unit plus moving new one into place followed by another hour ensuring proper connections are made between units etcetera.
- Tank to tankless installation. If you’re switching from a traditional water heater to a tankless water heater, the installation time may take a bit longer. Your licensed plumber will likely need to create new air vents, install new power lines, etc.
- Tankless to tankless installation. Swapping out one tankless unit for another tankless unit should take an hour or two at the most.
4) Wrapping Up
Once everything is completed and operational, the plumber will clean up their area of work, go over proper use of new heater(s) installed in installation area including any maintenance instructions if applicable, answer all queries related to this service call while also providing you tips on how best save money going forward etcetera.
Cost to Replace a Water Heater
The cost of replacing your water heater depends on several factors. First, are you replacing a tank or a tankless water heater? Additionally, how many gallons of water does your current water heater hold?
| Traditional Tank Water Heaters | Tankless Water Heaters |
| If you’re installing a new tank water heater, you can expect to pay an average of around $1,300. This typically includes the cost of any necessary permits from your city. This price also includes the tankless model itself, materials, labor and removal/disposal of the old tank. If you have a water heater explode a 40-gallon tank, you’ll pay less in part costs than if you were replacing an 80-gallon tank. A 40-gallon water heater replacement starts at around $320, while an 80-gallon model can cost upwards of $1,000 for the tank alone. | Though they’re more expensive up front, tankless water heaters will save you money long term with lower energy bills. Another advantage of going tankless water heater is that they last much longer than traditional tanks when properly cared for — up to two to three hours to double their lifespan. Additionally, if space is an issue in your home then this type new unit may be right for you. Tankless water heater models take up significantly less space and can help eliminate cramped utility rooms. Ever been taking a shower only to realize there’s no hot water left? Invest in a tankless hot water heater replacement and that cold water just won’t be a problem anymore — especially helpful for larger families who need multiple showers running at once. |
Final
Now that you know what goes into simply replacing a water heater, whether it’s upgrading from traditional to high-efficiency or simply swapping out leaking units one-for-one during an appointment should be fairly stress-free! In addition to replacement due to age or leaks in water lines, hard water is common among Dallas homeowners which causes scale buildup inside tanks that shortens their lives; so professional consultation twice annually is best practice for having your tank drained.
FAQ
How much does Lowes charge to install a water heater?
Probably $300-350.
What to expect after installing a new water heater?
How can I get my water heater installed? Step 1. Fill the tanks. The main thing is filling a tonne of the water tank. Step 2: Go swimming. Once the water has poured into the tank, you’ll need pipes to remove debris. The ‘” Step three – Check heaters. 3. Maintenance.
