I have a 20-year-old electric water heater that is still working well. It is installed in a laundry closet in the small kitchen. On the other side of the laundry closet is the garage. I am moving the washer and dryer to the other side of the wall. That has been a very straightforward process. I need to move the water heater. I have very limited resources and will struggle to pay the 400 the plumber estimated for turning the pipes 180 degrees. The tank is connected to the 3/4 supply lines with flexible copper lines that screw on at both ends. The electrical, which I am certain is no longer to code, is just a wire running from the wall to the box in the tank. (No box in the wall and no conduit) I have sweated a few very simple repairs in a bathroom but that is all. I recently used a sharkbite fitting for a repair and it has worked very well. I am wondering if I could use a push fitting, which swivels, in the supply line, and just turn the fittngs,180 degrees that way. As long as I leave an access panel, would that be acceptable? I also wondered if I could bring the electrical up to code in a few simple steps myself. I have removed the drywall and see no complicating factors, and nothing else about the installation is changing. I have very carefully switched out old outlets and light switches and replaced a few ceiling fans, but that is the extent of my experience with electrical.
- posted
7 years ago