Hot Water Heater Breakdown

Hot Water Heaters only weigh about 100 pounds and don't have a motor like many other appliances. Here's a few things you can do to get a little more out of them. Disclaimer: Not saying there isn't more in there or this is the best way of doing it, it's just the way I do it. I will only waste so much trying to squeak a little more out of something before I say F it.

On the top (not shown) if your lucky they left some copper pipe. Often times it's stuck pretty good so if it doesn't budge I cut it as low as possible and move on. On the side, upper top is the relief valve, down low you have the gas valve and the drain spigot (sometimes plastic, not brass).


On the gas valve cut the thermo coupler as close as possible, cut the aluminum pilot light pipe, and unscrew the bolt holding the gas line. Pull the whole burner assembly out and set aside.



Next I use a hammer to break the valve body free and get it to turn. It has pipe dope on it so it might take a few good hits before it starts to spin. If it doesn't want to budge I move on.



Next I take the brass drain spigot out.


Next the pressure valve. Large crescent wrench works sometimes, I prefer vise grips.


That is it for the parts I remove, next post will be what to do with the parts.

On the back of the gas valve is a nice piece of brass with a copper tube, unscrew that and the aluminum valve body goes in my aluminum breakage bucket. You could break the valve body down further if you want to spend the time..

Cut the plastic sleeve of the copper pipe/nipple, then separate it from the brass part. They are usually threaded.




Come down about 1/2 inch and nip the end off, the steel rod will then slide out and toss the nipple in the #2 bucket.


On the relief valve cut the end to remove the handle then cut a slot on the aluminum cap that's pressed in there, then pry out the cap and the spring and parts should fall out. You should have some #2 copper, clean brass, aluminum sheet and some steel.




Burner assemble will have a little brass, aluminum tube, copper and steel. At the end of the copper is the thermo coupler, that according to Hypo's write up a while back, can be quit valuable. I clip and save the end for now and throw the copper in #1 bucket.

Useful post - thanks. I've got three or four out in the pile right now.

Hot Water Heaters only weigh about 100 pounds and don't have a motor like many other appliances.

My new(used) water heater I just picked up from C.L. for the house has a blower on top for exhaust. I imagine their used a lot in newer homes so as they go bad we'll be seeing them with the electric blower motors.

Just a side note, there is big discussions about not putting a lot of wood/plastic/rocks in the steel pile. But when you take in an old wore out water heater your taking in an extra 25-50 lbs of rust and water.

Thanks for the feedback folks...I just scrapped the whole thing quite a few times, but was bored one day and was looking for something to do. I usually save the parts for a few weeks then process them as a lot.

Originally Posted by slaghunter

The blower is called a power vent and they are used on LP water heaters. You will not usually find a power vent on a natural gas water heater. Whats the difference?? Good question not sure why they have to be on the LP heaters.

This is a natural gas heater and if I understand correctly it is so you can have the chimney go sideways and exit the house thru a wall instead of the roof.

Hey admin, can we make this a sticky?

I got some of those power vents along with a bunch of fireplace accessories from a auction a while back. Here's another use for it...When running pipe you are allowed so many feet in the run with deductions being taken for bends, angles and size etc. If your HWH is buried in the basement and you have to go thru 2 stories and a tall roof, a power vent will give you more footage to work with.

Thanks for the Sticky Admin! I sincerely appreciate it!

Originally Posted by KZBell

Thanks for the Sticky Admin! I sincerely appreciate it!

WOOHOO you got a sticky.