How to Install an Instant Hot Water System
Having an instant hot water system is the perfect solution should you need to have hot water on demand. In addition to saving time on heating up the water, a tankless water heater can help to reduce the amount of electricity used by only heating the water when needed.
What You Will Need
- Drill
- Large diameter masonry hole saw
- Socket set
- 3/8-inch masonry hole saw
- Copper tubing
- Copper joints
- Small bubble level
- Bucket
- Sheathed electric cabling
- Solder
- Soldering torch
- Determine where the instant water system will be installed. Mark the positions for where the vent hole and the water heater unit will be located on the exterior wall. A template should have been provided with the water heater.
- Use the masonry bit to drill a pilot hole into the wall in the center of the vent hole. Use your drill and masonry hole saw to drill a hole for the vent. Start on the inside wall until the hole is halfway finished, then go outside to drill the rest of the hole.
- Use the sheathed electric cabling to run the electric service to the location of the water heater. If the heater is gas use a black iron pipe.
- Mount the instant water system to the wall in the marked location. Make sure the unit is level with your bubble level.
- Assemble the water heater’s vent pipe. Mount the elbow of the pipe to the top of the water heater.
- Have a friend or helper go to the exterior wall and attach the vent pipe’s exterior. Slide the exterior portion of the pipe into the vent hole and attach to the elbow.
- Connect the electrical connections or the gas lines to the water heating system.
- Turn off the water supply to the home. Connect the home’s water supply to the new water heating with the copper joints and tubing.
- Sweat the joints and connect all the piping with a torch and solder.
- Turn the home’s water supply back on and check for any leaks.
- Purge air from the plumbing lines by placing a bucket underneath the valves on the water heater and opening the valves.
- Close the water heater’s valves after all the air has been purged. Test the hot water from a nearby faucet to ensure the system works correctly.