Can a person replace their own water heater?

I don’t see it being a huge issue but I could be wrong.

Did my own. Its not to code, but it works.

You bet. The only problem is moving the old one and placing the new one in it's spot. They can be heavy. Just remember to drain the old one.


If it's set upon a shelf, elevated. You really need help to do it. Unless you have an iron back to where you can bear hug it and stick it up there.

Check code enforcement. When I did ours it required a permit and inspection after it was completed.

Last time I looked the normal cost to have someone do the work is more than the cost of the water heater, with the extra connectors and stuff they have to use.

If it’s electric then yes. I wouldn’t mess with gas.

It’s fairly simple in most cases. If you run into trouble feel free to reach out to me. I’m a plumbing contractor and will help you out the best I can.

The new water heaters have more insulation than the old units due to gov regs and will be larger for the same capacity. Measure to make sure the new on fits.

Just to clarify

Yea, my new one fit, barely.

If your gas line is direct soldered into the old unit, you need to call a plumber. If it uses a piece of flex hose, then you can probably handle it if you have the tools and know-how.

Even after you drain it, the old unit will weigh around 100 lbs. Make sure you can handle it, and know how/where you are going to dispose of it.

I set mine at the curb. It was gone in a couple of hours.

Yep, the junk man will snatch it up quick. Either taking it to the metal recycler or it's ending up being used for a BBQ pit. The electric tanks are the desirable. The gas tanks have a big pipe going through the center. Which means it has two big holes on both ends you gotta patch up. The electric just has heating element(s) stuck in the side. You can cap those holes off.

I put an exact replacement in and used 10 guage lever nut on the 220 cable. Works perfect. Rheem 40 gallon. I did the original installation when I built the house 25 years ago so……….sold the old unit for $5 at. the scrap yard along with a dead clothes dryer and a dead 220 window AC!. $16 total heehee!

Grasshopper the electric tanks have an anode rod protruding down into the tank.I know because I replaced it on my last unit. Sacrificial. rod!

They are both gas heaters.
They both have exhaust ports on top.

So do the gas ones.