Tips For Lifting a Heavy Water Heater
Last Updated: 11 July 2023
**DISCLAIMER: Please refer to your manufacturer’s installation manual for information regarding your specific model. If you are attempting to service your own heater, please do so with caution. This article is meant to provide an informative + educational summary and does not supersede official onsite diagnosis/repairs or information from your unit's manufacturer. U.S. Water Heating Solutions LLC and its associated DBAs are not liable for damages, injury, or other outcomes.**
What You Need to Know About Lifting a Water Heater
Do you need to lift or move your water heater? Perhaps you bought a new unit and need to dispose of the old water heater, or perhaps you want to lift your water heater onto a water heater stand. When faced with the task, you’ll learn that it’s not easy to lift water heaters thanks to their large size and weight. It can be done with the right tools and experience; you’ll just have to be careful so that you don’t hurt yourself nor cause damage to the water heater or your home.
Learn more about how to lift a water heater:
Water heater weight varies based on the size of the water heater and its construction materials. However, on average, a residential water heater weighs about 150 pounds when empty. Larger, commercial water heaters can reach 500 pounds, when empty.
When you add the weight of the water coupled with sediment build-up, water heaters get much heavier. Since one gallon of water weighs approximately 8.3 pounds, the water in a 40-gallon residential water heater (excluding the weight of the tank) is about 332 pounds. When you include the ~150 pound tank, the total weight comes to 482 pounds.
Tankless water heaters and small point-of-use water heaters weigh much less than a large water tank (roughly averaging between 50-70 pounds and 10-20 pounds, respectively). Although this article specifically focuses on lifting and removing storage tank water heaters, tankless water heaters may also need to be mounted to a wall or on a rack.
If you plan to move the water heater without professional assistance, be sure to re-read your warranty first. Moving the water heater to another residence or location within your home may void your warranty. For instance, one customer uninstalled their water heater, which prevented our technician from being able to service the unit (it needed to be installed in its original installation location for warranty repair service due to safety and liability issues, per the manufacturer). If you are unsure about the terms of your
water heater warranty, call your manufacturer for clarification before you do something that voids it.
Tools You May Need to Lift Your Water Heater
The following items can help lift your water heater:
- Ratchet Straps
- Dolly and/or Hand truck
- Slotted screwdriver
- Crescent wrench
- Transfer pump (optional)
Do not attempt to lift a hot water heater without the proper tools, as it can have seriously devastating results.
You may also want to enlist the help of a friend to assist you.
How to Lift a Water Heater
Follow these steps to safely lift and move a hot water heater:
Step One: Turn Off Power/Fuel Source + Water Supply to Water Heater
For safety purposes, you must first turn off your unit’s power or fuel source.
If you have an electric water heater, turn off electricity to your unit by flipping the water heater’s breaker to the off position to avoid the risk of electrocution.
For a gas water heater, close the shut off valve on the unit’s gas supply line. In most cases, the valve is closed when it’s perpendicular to the gas line.
You also want to shut off the incoming water supply (water main). Your water heater has a shut off valve at the water inlet. You should also turn off your home’s main water supply. You’ll find the valve for the main water supply near your water meter.
Step Two: Drain Water Heater
To reduce the water heater’s weight and reduce the likelihood of water damage, you will need to drain the water out of the tank.
Before you drain the water heater, open the pressure relief valve to release any excess pressure in the unit. You’ll find the T&P valve at the top of the unit connected to the overflow pipe.
To drain the water heater, open the drain valve at the bottom of the unit (you may need a slotted screwdriver).
We strongly recommend connecting a hose to the drain valve prior to opening it so that you can direct the water flow with ease. The water and sediment buildup inside of the hot water tank will travel through the hose out a nearby floor drain or the yard. Water flow from the drain will slow down until the tank is completely empty.
If there is not a floor drain nearby and/or you would like to speed along the draining process, you may hook a transfer pump to the drain valve with a heavy duty hose. A transfer pump moves water from one location to another using electric power. Due to the extra energy created by the pump, you’ll want to use a heavy duty hose that won’t literally crack under the pressure.
Step Three: Remove Connections
Your water heater has a cold water supply inlet that allows cold water to enter the water heater tank and a hot water outlet that transports warm water to the proper fixture or appliance. At this time, you’re going to remove those connections.
You should be able to loosen the connections with your hands, but you can also use a crescent wrench and DW40 if the connections are stuck.
You’ll also want to remove the overflow pipe on the outside of the water heater. If the overflow pipe doesn’t have a threaded connection, remove it with a pipe cutter.
Step Four: Attach Straps to Water Heater
Lifting straps not only make it easier to carry the immense weight of the water heater but also provide a sturdy grip. Different straps attach differently, so read instructions carefully. You also want to inspect the lifting strap for signs of damage and ensure that your strap is rated to carry the weight of your water heater.
Wrap the lifting strap around the water heater and through the supports (if applicable). Even out the strap so that you are holding one end of the strap with each hand.
The angle plays a role in how much weight the lifting strap can accommodate. When you reduce the angle, the straps offer less support. Make the angle as wide as possible and test the stability of the straps before you attempt to lift the water heater.
Step Five: Lift Water Heater onto Dolly/Hand Truck
With a good grip on the strap, you will lift the water heater onto a dolly.
A dolly is a device with wheels designed to help move a heavy load. For this particular task, you’ll want to find a dolly that is rated for the weight and includes vertical support.
Follow safe lifting techniques:
- Get a full grip on the ends of the strap (don’t just hold on with a couple of fingers)
- Keep your legs shoulder-width apart
- Lift with your knees
- Lift slowly
- Know your limitations
Once on the dolly or hand truck, you’ll be able to wheel the water heater to its destination.
When going up or down stairs, hold the lifting strap tight to keep the water heater secure as you move it up one stair at a time.
Why U.S. Water Heating Solutions?
There are numerous reasons to choose U.S. Water Heating Solutions when you need help lifting your water heater, including:
- We specialize in water heater repair and replacement. Our factory-trained technicians safely and carefully remove water heaters on a regular basis.
- All of our service vehicles contain a PowerMate Stair Climber - a stair climbing hand truck that assists our technicians in lifting water heaters up and down stairs.
- Our service vehicles are also equipped with hand trucks and ratchet straps to assist our technicians in spaces where our larger automated PowerMate Stair Climbers may not be used.
- Technicians also carry transfer pumps, hoses, and buckets on their vehicles to ensure they are able to drain units in a timely fashion.
You don’t have to lift your heavy water heater yourself! We at U.S. Water Heating Solutions have the knowledge and tools to do the job for you.
Contact U.S. Water Heating Solutions
to schedule an appointment to have your water heater lifted or removed today.
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