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Water heaters are remarkably easy to install yourself. Gas and water lines are flex tubing.

It’s more difficult to get the old one up the stairs than it is to install.

I think my last one was about $400 (2-4 years ago)

“It’s more difficult to get the old one up the stairs than it is to install.”

We had to replace our 15 year-old water heater back in February. Thankfully, it is in the laundry room on the ground floor. Now hubby and I are a lot older than we were the last time we replaced it and I assure you that the next time it is done, it will be someone else’s problem. Previously, hubby would have just picked up the hot water heater and carried it out. We don’t have the muscles to heft is like we used to. We had to get creative this time but finally managed to get it out on the deck and get the new one inside.

We had to take everything out of the laundry room which I do not recall doing the last time. It was obvious that the project that in the past would have taken us an afternoon was going to take us all weekend. So, we went ahead and took the opportunity to repaint the laundry room while we were at it. It ended up taking us a week from the day I discovered the water all over the floor to the time we had hot water again.

As I said, that is the last time it will be a DIY project for us.

“””Water heaters are remarkably easy to install yourself. Gas and water lines are flex tubing.”””

I’ve seen even hired handymen make mistakes in what looks like a simple water heater replacement that could kill people, or cause damage.

Make sure you get the venting right (really and truly make 100% sure) and make sure the water from the relief valve flows downhill if it goes off, rather than keeping the relief valve wet and corroding it as the water sits in the line.

Remember that the water heater you are replacing may have been poorly installed so be sure to look at your own installation with fresh eyes so that you don’t repeat an unsafe condition.