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I've done about 10 of these this year. You are right on with the breakdown.
Clear and concise with picts. I'm not big on breakdowns. I do grab easy parts, like you've outlined. The gas valve has always gone in with breakage, its not worth it to completely tear em down. Thanks.
Most of my hwh are electric. I grab the brass, copper and any wiring I can get. I remove the 2 covers for the elements, undo the screws holding the wire, then use pliers to pull them out. Sometimes they come right out, other times I leverage against the opening to pull it, other times they snap off. If they snap, I call it good. Too much work to cut it open.
Have also been taking the elements out. Assuming they're ni-chrome?
On the power vent hwh and furnaces they are high efficiency. They are usually rate at 94+ efficiency or better so they can be installed without a chimney.
If i just cant get the vavles loose, i just saw off all i can with the sawz all,least i'm getting some.
Thank you for this tutorial KZ. If not for step two, I'd still be trying to pound the copper piece with the nipple out of the brass fitting. I felt pretty stupid when I saw that it just simply unscrewed lol.
One time I picked up a piece of threaded steel pipe on a hot water heater. I threaded that into all of the brass fittings on the hot water heater and then I used a hammer to hit the pipe. Alot easier then vise grips and a lot faster. I saved that pipe and I use it for every hwh that I get now. Just a little trick that I have learned over the years.
Just a tip I've been working on around my area: Whenever I see a Sole Proprietor plumber... an individual "one man & a truck" type of outfit, not a chain... I always stop & chat them up. More often than not, they scrap their own water heaters. But every once in awhile you'll come across a guy that doesn't. I added another guy to my contact list just today who just wants rid of them & said he'll even drop them off on my back driveway as he heads home.
How cool is that?!?
Not enough time in the day for many off these solo acts so I will also deliver the large equipment to my regulars occasionally (Fee)...Drop off the new grab the old, even clock in for a while even they need help.
Thanks great info.
Sooo that's where my favourit hammer got to.
Five year and above warrenty tanks get the brass drain valve.
If you give the drain tap a good rap on the side the threads break off, same with the releif valve.
For those hard to remove theaded copper fitting hold a hammer tight against the back side the hit the oposite side with a hammer makes the fitting slightly oval breaking it loose.
http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/100_7518.jpg