Los Angeles 40 Gallon Gas Water Heater Installation

Los Angeles 40 Gallon Gas Water Heater Installation

Imagine this: You’re taking a shower and somewhere in the middle you notice the water keeps getting cooler and cooler and then all of the sudden you are hit with cold water. Or maybe you get home and notice a small river is escaping your garage. These scenarios happen all of the time and they can often mean you are going to need a new water heater. If this happens to you and, if you are a living in a typical home or apartment, it likely means you will need a Los Angeles 40 gallon gas water heater installation.

So, what do you do next? Of course you should go and inspect your water heater and see what is going on. But once you discover the problem, are you really able to fix it? In this situation, it is best to get a water heater expert out to take a look and that’s when you give us a call.

In this blog, we will be discussing a Los Angeles 40 gallon gas water heater installation, which is the most common residential water heater. A 40 gallon gas water heater will easily provide enough hot water for a 2-bedroom apartment or house and, since that is the most common home size, this is why these are the most common water heaters around.

First, you should know that if you discover that your water heater is leaking badly, you are going to want to shut off the water to help prevent any water damage, especially if the water heater is located anywhere inside the home. If you don’t know how to shut off the water to the water heater, you can watch this video or just ask for detailed instructions when you call us and our emergency call staff will be glad to help you.

THE BASIC RUNDOWN OF A LOS ANGELES 40 GALLON GAS WATER HEATER INSTALLATION

Once the decision has been made to replace your water heater, the process is usually pretty quick. Most installations shouldn’t take more than a few hours if the water heater is easily accessible (such as if it is in the garage) and other problems aren’t discovered. These other problems could include things like corroded plumbing that may have to be replaced first or water damage due to a leak that went unnoticed for an extended period of time. But for the most part, it shouldn’t take all day to get your hot water back up and running. Having said that, here is a basic list of the steps involved in a Los Angeles 40 gallon gas water heater installation:

1. We first turn the thermostat to “OFF” and then shut off the gas to the water heater by turning off the gas shutoff valve located on the gas line at the water heater.
2. Then we turn off the water at the water shutoff valve on the cold water line leading into the water heater.
3. At this point, it’s time to drain the water heater by hooking a hose up to the drain at the bottom of the water heater and opening that drain. The water then drains out into a safe area such as the dirt in the front yard.
4. Before we remove the water heater, we also detach the vent and remove the old earthquake straps.
5. At this point, we will begin disconnecting all the gas and water lines to the water heater and then we will remove the old water heater.
6. Once the old water heater is removed, we will install the new one and the whole process begins to look like the removal process, but in reverse. However, when we here at Water Heaters Only, Inc. install a new water heater, we don’t just reconnect the old gas and water lines, we install all new lines as any reputable company should. Not only that, but we will replace the earthquake straps and add bracing to the water heater, if needed.
7. Once all the lines have been hooked up, we also install up to 5′ of new T&P line as well as a new T&P valve and we put new insulation on the hot and cold  water lines. Then, we will re-attach the vent. Of course, we may have to modify the vent or even replace part of it completely depending on its condition and whether it is up to current code.
8. After everything has been re-attached and the water has been turned on for the tank, it’s time to fire up the water heater. Nowadays, that step is usually pretty simple and involves moving the thermostat to Pilot and pushing the igniter. Once the pilot is lit and the burner is heating the water, there should be hot water available for use within the next 30-45 minutes.
9. One of the final steps we do is to make sure the homeowner or tenant knows how to operate the water heater. Then we clean up (often leaving the area even cleaner than how we found it!), collect payment and move along to the next job.

And that’s about it. For the most part, a Los Angeles 40 gallon gas water heater installation is a pretty painless procedure. However, we should mention that there is always a chance some extra work may have to be done and of course we will always tell you before we start work. Some of the extra work may include running a drain line to the outside of the home or apartment, especially if the water heater is located in an inside closet. We will also usually put the water heater in a drain pan (or Smitty pan, as they are often called) if it is required by the local building code. The drain pan and line helps prevent any water damage to the inside of the home if the water heater starts leaking. The drain line will make sure that the leaking water drains to a safe outside location. Also in that situation, we will make sure that the T&P line runs to the outside as well.

If, for some reason, we are unable to run a drain line and the T&P to a safe location, we may install a Watts 210 and a water sensor. The water sensor will alert a homeowner to a leak and the Watts 210 is a device that will shut off the gas to the water heater in the event of a leak. This would work in conjunction with a pressure relief valve that is on the main water line, usually located outside of the home. Note that the water heater still needs a T&P valve on it. In some areas (such as in Texas), what is known as a WAGS valve will be installed. This shuts off both the both the water and gas to the water heater and is located in the drain pan.

Finally, in some areas, the local building code may require that we install an expansion tank. If the water pressure gets too high, this bottle will allow the water from the water heater to go into the expansion tank, thus relieving pressure from inside the water heater.

So, now you know the basics of a Los Angeles 40 gallon gas water heater installation. If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment to have us come out and take a look at your water heater, just give us a call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-323-274-7071 and we will be happy to assist you.