Replacing a residential water heater is no easy task. It is certainly not as simple as replacing a light switch or changing your HVAC filter. So a homeowner should think twice about embarking on water heater replacement as a weekend DIY project.
Think about it. How many people do you personally know who have replaced their own water heaters? If you are like most people, the answer is zero. There are many reasons homeowners typically leave the job to plumbers, like Salt Lake City’s SameDay.
Water heater repair and replacement are all in a day’s work at SameDay. They offer the following three reasons most new water heaters are installed by professionals:
1. Local Permits Are Required
Although there are exceptions to the rule, nearly all municipalities in the U.S. require a permit for water heater replacement. Permit requirements are not just municipalities trying to make life hard for residents. Water heaters become dangerous pieces of kit if they are not installed correctly.
The permitting process is a way to ensure the things get done correctly. A homeowner applying for a permit would instantly raise questions. No doubt that the local code enforcement office would be very interested in who is doing the work. And that takes us to the next point.
2. Licensing Is Sometimes Required
There are exceptions to the rule once again, but most cities and counties require that water heaters be installed by licensed professionals. That means plumbers, HVAC contractors, building contractors, and so forth. Licensing is required because the average homework possesses neither the skill nor knowledge to do the job safely.
Even in jurisdictions where licensing is not required, local officials strongly urge professional installation. As explained by SameDay, licensed professionals are trained in safe water heater installation. They know how to do the job in such a way as to minimize any potential danger.
After the fact, a professionally installed water here can be depended on to work faithfully for years. A homeowner typically doesn’t have to worry about leaks, faulty plumbing, and ventilation issues.
3. Code Compliance Is Not Optional
The third and final thing to know about water heater installation is that local code compliance is not optional. Codes are developed to ensure installations are not hazardous. When you are talking about hot water under pressure, that’s important. It is even more so when you consider you’re mixing pressurized water with either electricity or a gas burner.
Nearly every municipality in the country requires a post-installation inspection. A local code officer stops by and inspects the work. Should the work fail inspection, the homeowner must remove it and start over. Passing inspection is essentially a green light to turn the heater on and let it get to work.
What about jurisdictions that don’t require professional installation? There is no way to say for sure, but I suspect code officers in those jurisdictions are a lot tougher on DIY homeowners. There can be no room for error on this particular job. A homeowner needs to get everything on point or his work will not pass inspection.
Just Hire a Pro and Be Done With It
I know that plenty of DIY homeowners bristle at the thought of any contractors doing work on their homes. I get it. I am a computer guy, and I don’t like anybody touching my machines. But water heaters are dangerous devices. If it’s me, I’m just going to hire a pro and be done with it. I have no desire to take my chances with a large piece of metal that could explode and do real damage.
