You Should Hire a Professional to Replace Your Water Heater and Avoid DIY Projects

The water heater inside your home is now on its last lifeline and you know that replacing it is inevitable. However, you are considering whether or not you should replace the unit all on your own. You have some experience in HVAC repair services and you feel that you possess enough skill and knowledge to pull it all off. While it’s tempting to undergo your own DIY project, you should always hire an HVAC repair specialist to do the work for you.

Your water heater plays a huge role in your keeping your home nice and comfortable. You don’t want to take any risks when it comes to ensuring that you have reliable access to hot water at all times. You should always avoid undergoing any DIY replacement projects and here’s why:

A technician not only knows their way around a water heater, but they also possess all the experience and certifications to get the job done. This means that a professional will ensure that they are taking care of all your hot water heating needs while committing minimal mistakes during the entire process. Also, ask yourself this: have you ever undergone a DIY replacement project? If so, then you know that it can be grueling and time-consuming – especially if you lack the proper training and experience. Why leave anything up to chance when you can have a professional take care of it for you?

What often happens during a DIY project is the homeowner will finish replacing their water heater and everything will seem like it’s working properly. However, a month or two later you experience a major breakdown and it will create a major financial setback. You could also unwittingly end up creating a potential safety hazard for you and your family. When dealing with gas lines, you should always leave it to the professionals to handle any repairs or replacements. Water heating systems rely upon fuels that are extremely flammable and if you make a single mistake during the installation process, then the consequences could be fatal.

A professional HVAC contractor will ensure that your water heater is properly installed and hooked up with your ventilation system. This is one of the most crucial elements of any replacement service. Proper ventilation ensures that your preventing any noxious vapors from entering your home, which poses a major health and safety risk for you and your family. Carbon monoxide is also odorless and tasteless. You often won’t know when there’s a leak until you begin experiencing flu-like symptoms, including nausea, a bloody nose, migraines, and dizziness.

Improper installations also put you at risk of water leaks. Cleaning up any leaks in your basement can be a major inconvenience that you could have easily avoided. Fuel and water leaks, as well as insufficient ventilation, are situations that you never want to find yourself in. Hiring a professional ensures that you are properly attaching all of the hoses and valves and repairing any faulty connections.

Regardless of whether you install a tankless electric system or a gas-powered storage tank, the job will require certain tools for you to get it done properly. Your local HVAC professional will always have access to the latest and most updated equipment. They will also possess the training and know-how to use said equipment. Your water heater is designed to last, but without the proper tools, your DIY attempt could end up backfiring.

Sure, you may end up saving a considerable amount of money by undergoing a DIY project to replace your water heater, but odds are that everything won’t be up to code. No matter how much planning and preparation you put into it, there is still a chance you may overlook something. A qualified HVAC professional possesses all the training to replace your current water heater and ensure that no mistakes are made during the process.

Also, let’s say you plan on selling your home. Well, that DIY project can come back to bite you and it will significantly impact your financial situation. A home inspector will know if your installation is up to code, and if it isn’t, then this could greatly affect your home’s resale value. In a situation such as this, you should have a repair specialist take a look at your water heater to see what changes they can make to your current installation. Hiring a professional to perform the replacement is ultimately going to save you a lot of time and money and in the long run.

Even if you know what you are doing, you should always leave it to the professionals. Below are a few additional reasons you should avoid DIY replacements for your water heater:

• You have to physically remove the old water heater: Older models are typically unwieldy and heavy, so they can be difficult to remove. Also, you need to detach the hoses, turn off the gas, drain the storage tank – it can be a major ordeal.
• You have to transport the replacement model: That means unloading it off the truck, carrying it down into your basement – again, this is no fun and exhausting.
• You have to hook up your new system: Are you sure you know which component goes where? Are the instructions difficult to understand? Now you’re in over your head.
• You have to lug your old water heater upstairs: This is something you likely won’t be able to do by yourself. Your family doesn’t want to do it either, so now who’s going to help you?

Undergoing a DIY project to replace your current water heater is a major hassle and you can avoid it by simply hiring an HVAC repair specialist. If you have questions about installing a new water heater, then you are always welcome to give us a call. We provide water heater replacement services for residents throughout the greater Las Vegas area.