- 1). Check with your city or local municipality about a do-it-yourself water heater installation. Some locations might require that you take out a permit before you start construction. In other places, this type of job might only be able to be performed by a certified professional.
- 2). Turn off the electricity to the circuit where you will be installing the water heater at the main circuit breaker. Place a piece of tape over the breaker so that no one turns it on while you are working.
- 3). Unpack the heater and remove any protective packing devices. Move the heater to the final location where you will be installing it. Have an assistant help you if this is a heavy heater.
- 4). Wrap the inlets on the top of the heater with plumber's tape. Connect the cold water supply pipe to the side of the water heater marked "Cold" or "Inlet." Connect the hot water supply pipe to the "Hot" or "Outlet" side of the heater. This is usually done with flexible couplings in most water heater installations, but your heater may differ. Use a wrench or pair of pliers to tighten the couplings.
- 5). Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws on the electrical supply panel. Strip off the last inch or so of insulation from the supply wires with wire strippers. Connect the black wire to the terminal marked "Hot," the white wire to the terminal marked "Neutral" and the copper wire to the terminal marked "Ground" or colored green. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to crimp the wire around the terminal. Secure the terminal by tightening with a screwdriver. Replace the electrical panel and secure with the screw.
- 6). Turn on the water supply for the tank and allow it time to fill. Turn on the power for the electrical circuit that controls the heater. Adjust the temperature on the heater as needed.
- 7). Open up the hot water supply valve on the heater. After the water inside the heater has reached the temperature from Step 6, run the hot water in your house and test the temperature. Make adjustments to the heater thermostat if needed.
- 8). Wrap the heater with an insulating jacket to prevent heat loss.
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