Since the best tankless electric water heater is a pricey investment, it’s a must to know how to maintain it properly. At first, I was hesitant about buying one at home because of its price. I’d stick to the usual kettle way every time I take a bath. When I decided to invest my money on a heater, the result was delightful. It’s more convenient, and getting hot water for bathing is quicker.
After buying a heater, I check on ways on how I can install spare parts inside in case I have to repair or replace something. Since I’m too conscious when it comes to expenses, I make sure to do what’s necessary for proper maintenance. Moreover, I enjoy exploring and troubleshooting my heater.
Two Ways on How to Keep a Water Heater Long-Lasting
Before figuring out how to install flexible water heater connectors, it’s essential to know two easy ways to keep a water heater in excellent condition.
- Always turn the heater on or put it on vacation mode. One fallacy I had when it comes to heaters is that I can save money if I turn it off during idle times. I was saving centavos, yet it cost me more when I have to repair it. It’s also challenging to turn it back on, which leads to further problems. It’s a good thing that my heater has a vacation mode because it’s easier to reheat the water.
- Clean and drain the tank of the heater occasionally. Despite not putting anything in the tank, I can’t guarantee its cleanliness. It’s crucial to remove the water inside the container every six months to clean unwanted residues. These inches of sediment always hinder in the performance of my heater. It’s one reason why I even use a wet/dry vacuum to suck the dirt out of the valve.
These ways may be too modest, yet each way is useful when it comes to retaining a heater’s durability.
Things to Prepare for Flexible Connectors Installation
One of the common replaceable parts of a heater is the flexible connector. It’s crucial to assure that it’s flexible enough to adjust freely. Also, it’s vital to keep it in good condition to avert unwanted leakage of water.
Here were the things I needed when I installed the connectors on my heater:
- Flexible connectors
- Wrench
- Measuring tool
- Thread-Seal Tape
Aside from connectors, the measuring instrument is very significant when it comes to installing connectors. Incorrect measurement of connectors’ lengths can compromise the flow of the water.
Moreover, I needed a wrench to lock the nuts, and I also used a thread-seal tape to secure the connectors.
Step-by-Step Ways on How to Install Flexible Connectors
Learning to install a heater’s connector is not as complicated as it looks. It’s essential to learn the necessary steps in setting it up for replacements and maintenance. When I tried installing the connectors to my heater, I only needed a wrench as the primary tool to use. Here are easy steps on how to install connectors to a heater:
- Turn of the breaker or gas supply. It’s crucial to turn off the electric heater’s breaker first for safety purposes. Since I’m using a gas water heater, I turned off the gas supply. Then, I adjusted the setting of the thermostat to its lowest temperature. After changing, I turned off the pilot.
- Measure the length of both cold and hot water lines. Despite these connectors’ flexibility, it’s essential to know what the needed size is. It’s available in 12 to 24 inches, depending on the heater. I always use 12 inches at home because it’s a suitable length for my heater.
- Shut-off the supply line, and drain the tank. The next step is to turn off the cold water supply, and then I opened the hot water faucet to drain the water inside the container. After removing, I closed the spigot and lifted the lever of the pressure valve to release the remaining pressure inside the tank.
- Loosen the nuts on the tank and the heater supply lines. I used an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts that connect my heater’s pipes to the connectors. After loosening the nuts, I discarded the old lines because it’s not usable anymore. Moreover, these used lines will only cause hassle if I reuse it.
- Wipe the threads and wrap the thread-seal tape. After loosening the nuts, I wiped the male connectors’ threads with a rag. These connectors are on the top of the tank and at the wall. After cleaning, I used a thread-seal tape to wrap it, wherein I applied two to three layers.
- Prepare the new connectors, and connect these from the tank to the pipes. Once the threads are all set, I installed the new connectors, and I tightened these using my wrench. It’s essential to constrict these lines to avert unwanted leakage. Also, tightening these will spare me from additional expenses.
- Turn on the hot water faucet and the supply valve. To check if I was able to install the new connectors properly to my water heater, I switch on the tap and the supply valve. I left the spigot open until it gave me a stable stream of water. Right after assuring that it pours steadily, it’s safe to turn off the faucet again.
- Turn the breaker back again for electric heaters, while there’s a provided instruction at the side for gas heaters. Electric heaters only need the beaker to operate, yet it may damage these if the faucet is still on. As for gas water heaters, there’s specific instruction on the side of the container, just like what I did. After turning the breaker, the heater is ready for usage.
It’s essential for water heater owners to know their equipment. Basic troubleshooting is inevitable, mainly when it’s frequently operating. On my case, I always use it every day, from morning to evening. It’s one of the main reasons why I explore ways on how to install its spare parts.
With proper care and maintenance, water heaters are likely to last longer. My gas water heater has been operating for quite some time, and it doesn’t disappoint me with its performance. Moreover, I can save a lot of money for not calling any services whenever I need to install or repair something since I can troubleshoot on my own.
Related Topic: What to Do and Where to Dispose of Water Heater
