Revisiting Our Hybrid Water Heater Install | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House Richard Trethewey returns to a home he visited four years earlier to replace a faulty water heater.

Richard returns to a home he visited four years earlier to replace a hybrid water heater which did not work.

Time: 3-4 hours
Cost: $5,000
Skill Level: Professional

Tools List for Installing a Hybrid Water Heater:
Pipe wrenches
Torch
Pipe dope
Solder
PVC pipe primer and cement
Pipe cutter

Shopping List:
Hybrid Water Heater
1” Copper pipes with fittings
3” PVC pipes with fittings

Steps:
1. Unplug the electrical connections.
2. Turn the gas valve off.
3. Turn off the water supply to the current water heater.
4. Drain the current water heater using a hose into a utility sink or a bucket.
5. Break the connections on the current water heater by cutting the copper pipes with a pipe cutter and breaking the gas line nut connections using opposing force and pipe wrenches.
6. Mount the new hybrid water heater unit to the wall.
7. Use 3” PVC pipe for both the air intake piping and the exhaust flue products. Dry fit all the connections first.
8. Once the dry fittings are set, use PVC primer and cement to make the connections permanent.
9. Dry fit the copper water line connections into the unit and out of the unit using 1” copper. Be sure to clean each pipe with emery cloth for a tight connection.
10. Make permanent connections on the 1” copper pipe lines using flux, solder, and a torch.
11. Install a temperature and pressure relief valve on the water line.
12. Connect the gas line piping using pipe wrenches and opposing force.
13. Plug in the unit to an electrical outlet.
14. Turn the gas valve back on. Check for any leaks using a soap solution. Bubbles will show a leak.
15. Turn the water supply line back on. Check for any leaks in the copper pipes.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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Revisiting Our Hybrid Water Heater Install | Ask This Old House

[jasonalexander]

"I'm sorry." You hardly ever hear that anymore. Great job Richard.

[joshgregory]

I've been watching this show since i was a kid in the 80's. I always love seeing them revisit homes they've worked on.

[brandon]

This shows a level of character not all people have. Glad to see TOH acknowledged there was an issue and went back and made it right.

[kevinwoodcock]

Solid job by Richard and ask this old house. People willing to right a wrong is very nice to see. One might say uplifting even. A plumbing video with Richard wouldn't be complete without the "cut away" Love it!!

[lilpbass]

Rich is a top notch plumber. Always a pleasure to see his work.

[davidsmith]

I would love to see more of these short videos where they check in on people that had newer tech installed to collect feedback.

[GMDuramax]

Bottom line, Rich went back and fixed it. It't not any plumbers fault that they wouldn't touch it because it becomes a warranty nightmare. Eternal, which is the manufacturer at fault sent a half page release on their website and to some installers back in October 2015 saying they closed up shop. It left no warning for installers or suppliers. The letter basically said they are winding down operations and any parts left over will be the only parts left for service. Back in 2013, I installed 6 of these units in a set of houses I built, 3 of them needed to be replaced ( 2 dead control panels, 1 cracked heat exchanger). The 3 gave out in Dec of 2016. I was not given any letter and plumbers on my crew we not given the letter either. So we had no choice but to install new units, replumb them, and get them up and running. We installed Navien units and so far so good. The other 3 will probably go out soon, and when they do, we will replace them.

With that said, installers and builders like me try our best to deliver the latest and greatest if it fits within budget and if we feel after doing research is appropriate for install. But many times, factors such as Eternal just closing up shop in the middle of the night is something we can't control. Any plumber or builder worth their grain of salt will just step up and replace the units. While the 3 units were replaced on my dime, should the other 3 do the same thing, I will do it again. But some homeowners need to understand, when we see units like these, that we didn't install and we need to have a conversation with the homeowner to explain in order to replace the unit, such as a Navien, it will cost roughly $4K. Its a tough conversation because many homeowners, atleast in NJ expect the unit to be replaced for free. WHile investing more money on another unit hurts, installers do not run off a network where we can look in a computer and say, "we didn't install it. It's under warranty though despite the company being out of business, so we will do this as a warranty repair." Some plumbers and installers simply can't afford to just install a new item in their home if they didn't install it. What helps is standing by your work and having a conversation that says, "I understand the frustration and understand that spending money on another unit is a tough pill to swallow, but if you let me install a new unit, I promise I will stand behind it should something go wrong." Having this conversation will go miles with a customer especially should something go wrong and you do everything you promised, that customer will be with you for life. It's the most important thing.

Eternal, while was the latest and greatest at the time, is not the only company to pull something shady such as this. Look up Tamco's Lamerite roofing products. Tamco has been around for a long time, and back in 2012 was one of the only manufacturers to offer a composite slate roof with a 50 year warranty. Within 3 years, the product started to fail. Either because of extreme discoloration, or sever chipping, or the slate pieces just sliding off the roof. Tamco no longer manufactures this product, discontinued service on this product, will no longer send a rep out for inspection; but is still in business selling its asphalt shingle line. If you look this product up, you will see numerous class actions regarding this product. But again, not the fault of the installer, not the fault of a suppliers; but since we're on the front lines, we're on the hook. Stuff like this happens to even well established companies.

So before anyone knocks the installers, the homeowners, other tradesman, realize this, most of us go to trainings from manufacturers. Most of us will try to give the latest and greatest because it gives and edge towards better building practices. Most of us will stand behind our installs in the event a manufacturer shuts its doors and says, "sorry sucker, you're on your own." While this mantra may not apply to every single tradesman, it will apply to most.

[espowari]

Love that TOH stands behind their work. Awesome.

[larrymoore]

It's tough on a contractor that is left hang because a company closed it doors. As a business owner and consumer I appreciate all contractors that stand by their work especially in a situation like this where there is no manufacturing support behind them. For all contractors that support their customers let me say thanks because the tendency now is to do the job, get the money and move on. Once again thank you for your continuing support.

[parallelburrito]

And that my friends is what I call life. It's not what happens to us but how we deal with them when they do.

[Stryford]

Richard Trethewey is my hero. LOL. But really, he's our favorite out of all the "This Old House" crew. I wish we could hire you over here!

[Major_Mason]

That home owner is a FREAKING MILLIONAIRE!!!!

[CLTNY]

OMG, HTP hybrid water heater is now discontinued. I have a Monitor combi boiler which is an orphan with no parts as the French company exited the U.S. market many years ago, but it is such a good product it is still working. However after almost 20 years it is finally time to replace it. At least that HTP should still be under warranty as the company is still in operation in the U.S.

[readmore]

Ive been a plumber over 35 years....I like my 50 gallons of hot water in my garage, standard water heater. Every 12-20 years
I replace it. That works out to about 11 cents a day. These tank-less heaters are a fashion.

[wendybrown]

I greatly appreciate this video and the comments!  This JUST happened to us with the same Eternal water heater!  As was stated it worked great until it didn't.  I spent the day doing research and learned what was stated here. I know the plumbing contractor made his recommendation in good faith.  I did my research at the time.  This heater incorporated great ideas.  But here we are.

[willysnowman]

I bought a used tankless on Craigslist +10 years ago for about $100. Soldered it in and it still works fine. Bet I could get his broked one working.

[krisone]

My Grandfather was a Union Plummer. I'm absolutely fascinated by how modern and Ancient plumbing worked. Grandpaw Johnny. Died 1976. R.I.P. I never got the chance to know him.✝️

[krisone]

Richard is such a cooool Dude ❗He has a passion for his trade, awesome, he likes his job, & he's super nice guy 🤓

[poordecisionsgarage]

I briefly helped a guy who was building his 2nd house with a similar style recirculating system except instead he had motion detectors set up in each of the areas that recirculated to that would trigger the circulating pumps for 10-15 after there was motion. He had found that without the motion detectors in his first house the constantly recirculating hot water was actually heating his house which was a problem in the summer.

[porschmn]

I am so glad to see something screw up for these guys! I can't tell you how I hate that everything they do comes out so damn perfect---- nothing like my projects where I'm happy when nothing goes from bad to worse when I'm trying to fix it. Of course I don't have a team of experts behind the scenes doing all the hard work. Great job in coming back and correcting the screw up though.