At Parks Heating Cooling Plumbing & Electrical, we use our many years of experience helping customers with water heater installation and replacement to keep your water warm and home cozy. In the Charlotte, NC, area, this is especially important as temps drop during the winter months.
You may be wondering what’s involved in the water heater installation and replacement process and how to tell when you need a new water heater. This is your complete guide to installing and replacing a new water heater in the Charlotte, NC, area.
The water heater installation and replacement process is unique, especially when it comes to plumbing your system and the water heater we install.
The first step is to figure out the size heater you need and how we will plumb it so that it connects with your existing plumbing infrastructure.
In some cases, you may not have plumbing already in place. In this case, we could still choose the water heater that best fits your needs based on the size of your home, the number of occupants, typical water usage habits, and your energy conservation preferences.
If you already have your plumbing infrastructure set up, connecting your water heater to it is relatively straightforward.
Typically, a home in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area has a single water heater that services the entire home. Plumbing this water heater involves connecting it to your hot water system. In some cases, a hot water system consists of a manifold that distributes hot water to the pipes that then continue to the fixtures in your home.
In other cases, you may have a single hot water supply pipe that comes from the water heater, and individual pipes branch off and take the water to each receptacle.
Regardless of the setup your home has, your new water heater will plumb into your hot water supply line and ensure the rest of your home gets the hot water it needs.
How does your water heater get the water it needs to warm up? Regardless of the type of water heater you have, it comes with an inlet that takes cold water from your supply line. Typically, this pipe would branch off your existing cold water supply, and we would connect it to your water heater.
Once the cold water flows into your water heater, the heating elements inside heat it and store it inside the tank. The back pressure from either your water supply or a pressure tank keeps the water in the heater’s tank at a pressure high enough to push it through the rest of the home. However, until a faucet, shower valve, or other valve gets turned on, the hot water stays inside your plumbing. Your hot water pipes, even with insulation, may feel warm to the touch.
Once you create negative pressure in the plumbing system by opening a valve, such as by turning on the hot water in your kitchen sink, the hot water in your tank and plumbing is pushed through the system out of the receptacle.
The above details are important because we use them to decide how to match your new water heater with your existing plumbing. For example, if you have especially long plumbing runs from your water heater to receptacles, it may be necessary to install a larger water heater that can make the system more efficient.
If, for instance, there’s a high ratio of water in your pipes to water in your water heater’s tank, your unit may have to work harder than it should. The unusually high volume of water in the pipes is constantly cooling down, so you may end up running your taps longer to get water that’s as warm as you’d like it to be. This wastes water and forces your water heater to constantly take in more cold water, expending electricity or gas to heat it.
Replacing your water heater typically involves fewer plumbing-related concerns than installing a new one. However, we still have to check some key components before starting the replacement.
First, we have to examine the plumbing connecting to your old water heater, which could explain why it failed. Even though water heaters degrade slowly over time, some external plumbing issues can hasten their decline.
For instance, there may be a leak at the connection between the plumbing and the water heater. If so, the water seeping out can cause your water heater to corrode faster than it normally would.
If you have a gas-heated water heater, we may also have to check the gas supply valve. If, for example, it doesn’t open all the way, that could result in poor water heater performance and its early demise.
Once we’ve thoroughly checked for any possible plumbing issues, we will shut off the water headed to your water heater to start plumbing your new heater. In most cases, your new water heater will be about the same size as your old one, especially if it didn’t break down because it was too small for your home.
Once we’ve stopped the cold water flowing to the water heater and closed the valve at the hot water outlet, we run the hot water using the valve or receptacle closest to your water heater. Then, we connect a hose to the drain valve of your water heater and drain the water out of it into buckets or down a nearby drain. Once the tank is empty, we remove it by first disconnecting the water supply lines. If we have to cut them, we keep them as long as possible, which makes it easier to plumb in the new one.
Installing your new water heater starts with putting it in place and, if necessary, installing a new temperature and pressure (T&P) valve.
We then plumb a discharge pipe into the T&P valve, which we’ll use to check the pressure after we’ve installed the water heater.
Next, it’s time to plumb your new water heater by connecting it to the rest of your system. To do this, we first connect the cold water and any necessary fittings using some plumber’s tape, which we wrap around the threads before twisting the fittings together.
Since Charlotte, NC, requires seismic bracing for water heaters, we will then install seismic straps. These get attached to the upper and lower thirds of your hot water tank. Per building codes in North Carolina, the straps are anchored against wall studs, which, if the unit’s against a flat wall, will be about 32” apart.
Once the tank has been plumbed and braced in place, we start the filling process by slowly turning on the cold water supply. At this time, we check the plumbing for leaks, and if there are none, we continue filling the tank.
After the tank is full, we flush any air or debris out of the hot water plumbing system by running a nearby faucet for three minutes. Our electrician can wire your water heater and turn on the power if it’s electric. If you have a gas water heater, we can plumb the gas connection, turn on the valve, and test the system.
After the water has been heated sufficiently, it’s time for us to check the discharge pipe. If there’s water running out of the T&P valve and into the discharge pipe, the pressure between the cold water intake and the tank is probably too high, so we’ll lower it to somewhere below 80 PSI.
The most common sign that you need to replace your water heater is that your water either doesn’t heat up at all or takes a long time to reach a warm enough temperature. This could be a sign that the heating element or the electrical or gas system that heats it has failed.
You also might notice water leaking from your water heater. If this is the case, give us a call, and we can come check it out. The first thing we’ll check is the plumbing to your water heater to make sure the leak isn’t coming from there.
At Parks Heating Cooling Plumbing & Electrical, we take pride in excellent customer service, which starts with transparent, honest communication. We provide upfront and flat-rate pricing for your water heater service. In this way, there are no surprises when it comes time to pay for your service.
If you make a same-day appointment, we can waive the dispatch fee. We also offer 15% discounts for active and retired military service members. And we’re not new to the game. We’ve been installing and replacing water heaters in the Charlotte area for over 50 years. This means we do it right the first time. Discover the Parks way by reaching out to us today
Call Parks at (704) 275-1017 to schedule a Water Heater Installation in Charlotte, NC, or the surrounding areas today.
When it comes to water heater installation and replacement in Charlotte, NC, Parks HVAC is your trusted expert. We focus on delivering exactly what you need, whether you’re installing a new water heater or replacing an existing one. Our top priority is to provide professional, reliable service that gives you peace of mind, ensuring the job is done right the first time.
With over 50 years of experience in water heater installations and replacements, we’ve honed our ability to respond quickly and make scheduling as seamless as possible.
At Parks HVAC, we offer a 15% discount to active and retired military personnel as a token of our appreciation. To further ease the process, we provide flat-rate pricing upfront, so you know exactly what to expect. Plus, when you schedule a same-day appointment, we’ll waive your dispatch fee.
Water Heater Installation in Charlotte, NC or the surrounding areas by calling (704) 275-1017 today.
For Charlotte homeowners, water heater installation services should be entrusted to the experts at Parks. We have proudly served the Charlotte area for over 50 years and offer unparalleled customer service. With licensed, experienced technicians, Parks can help homeowners with water heater installations, repairs, and maintenance.
Schedule your water heater installation in Charlotte, NC, or the surrounding areas by calling (704) 275-1017 today. Contact us today for a free estimate for a water heater installation!
Why Choose Anyone Else?
Customer Reviews
Recent Google reviews rated 4 stars or higher
Exceptional customer service, both Marlon and Marquis were very knowledgeable, respectful of our home, and provided the best service I’ve had in years! Prompt, efficient, and cold air in less than 24 hrs!
We LOVE DeWayne at our home! He is the BEST! He is thorough, and detailed, and what helps me the most, is that he explains things in a matter that I understand, and that allows me to make a wise and knowledgeable decision on my repairs. He is a pleasure to have in our home, which is so nice when it comes to plumbing needs. Parks has wonderful employees and I have come in contact with many of them, and DeWayne is among the best!
Excellent service. Very focused on details and manufacturer’s recommendations.
Dewayne Lundy was fantastic service tech. He was efficient, friendly, and took time to show me details of the issues I had with the plumbing that needed more immediate attention and others that could wait for a later service.
Very thorough, explained what was going on with our system and was helpful to us in understanding various precautionary options to improve what we have!!
Our AC/thermostat wouldn’t turn on today. I made an appointment online for the same day. Alex was dispatched as our technician. He communicated prior to his arrival with an estimate time which was spot on. He was kind and knowledgeable. He diagnosed the issue quickly, made repair recommendations and resolved our issue today. Great service!!
Professional, well mannered, and knowledgeable of the skill.
Mark Watson did an excellent job of checking everything thoroughly that has to do with our heating and cooling equipment. He actually found a part of that unit that really needed cleansing and he took the time to explain it as well as to do a very thorough job in cleaning it up with water and chemicals. Appreciated his thorough report as well and pictures that were taken that I shared with my husband Jeff when he got home from work. So appreciate the maintenance visit that uncovered a serious problem.
Alex Rodriguez was professional, courteous and respectful explaining everything perfectly
Great experience with Vic today. Knowledgeable and helpful.
First time visit from Parks and could not be more pleased. Very professional and not pushy to sell me something. It was my annual plumbing inspection and was very well done.
Jonathan Penaranda has excellent customer service skills. He did a great job explaining how our system works.
