Propane Water Heaters: A Different Sort Of Breed And How They Are Installed
Natural gas or electric are the two main types of water heaters. They are standard in the industry because most homes receive natural gas and electricity as their main sources of energy/fuel from the cities in which the homes dwell. Propane, on the other hand, is a rare "breed" in that not too many homes select propane by choice. It is more common in the South than it is in the North, but even then, propane is an unusual choice for water heaters and/or furnaces. To get to know this fuel type and how propane water installation typically occurs in homes where propane is not your typical fuel source, the following is provided.
First the Propane
It is impossible to have a propane water heater installed if you do not first have propane. As such, a professional propane supplier will have to retrofit your home with a propane tank and delivery lines. A professional plumber may be on hand to help facilitate this part of the installation, since he/she will have to be present to install the propane water heater after that. Once the propane fuel tank is in, and the plumbing pipelines are running into your home, the plumber can install your new propane water heater.
Then the Propane Water Heater
After the propane company has installed the propane fuel tank and propane fuel delivery lines into your home, the plumber can remove your old water heater and install the new propane one. If the old water heater was electric, this conversion is fairly straightforward in that the electrical wiring that once provided energy to the water heater now only provide minimal power for controls. The propane fuels the water heater's capacity to heat water. If the water heater you are replacing is natural gas, the switch is a little more complicated as you will have to stop receiving natural gas into your home when you start receiving propane.
The plumber you hired will take out all natural gas lines (if applicable, or unless you use natural gas for some other appliance in your home) and make sure the propane lines are ready to be turned on. The propane lines will need to be turned off and sealed off until the water heater is fully installed and the propane lines are solidly connected to and sealed to the new water heater. The plumber connects the water heater to the home's plumbing, and then turns the valve to release the propane into your new water heater.
Contact a service, like All American Plumbing & Heating, for more help.