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Old 05-01-2018, 06:01 PM
 
65 posts, read 36,428 times
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First time homeowner in SI here. My hot water heater is over 12 years old and I'm considering replacing it before becomes a catastrophe. My question is regarding permits, etc... I know I can go to Home Depot or Lowes and carry home a brand new hot water heater, and I have no doubt about my ability to perform the work (looks dead simple actually), but am I actually allowed to? From what I've read the city allows repair to existing installations without a permit but new installations (adding a bathroom etc..) requires a permit. I know if I call a plumber to have this done I'm looking at easily double the cost and I'm a cheap bastard. Would replacing a hot water heater fall under the existing installation loophole?
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Old 05-01-2018, 06:06 PM
 
Location: New Jersey!!!!
18,874 posts, read 13,756,433 times
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Of course.
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Old 05-01-2018, 06:26 PM
 
65 posts, read 36,428 times
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Of course what? Of course I need a permit, or of course I can do it myself with no issues?
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Old 05-01-2018, 06:48 PM
 
3,857 posts, read 3,119,014 times
Reputation: 4237
It is as simple as installing a stove, but have home Depot install it,with a guarantee. When gas is involved, I let the pros handle it.

Cheap bastards get left with gunpowder all over their face, when they f up.
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Old 05-01-2018, 07:13 PM
 
Location: New Jersey!!!!
18,874 posts, read 13,756,433 times
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Your question was, “Can I DIY my water heater.” The answer is “of course”.
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Old 05-01-2018, 07:32 PM
 
31,656 posts, read 26,523,725 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakamonogatari View Post
First time homeowner in SI here. My hot water heater is over 12 years old and I'm considering replacing it before becomes a catastrophe. My question is regarding permits, etc... I know I can go to Home Depot or Lowes and carry home a brand new hot water heater, and I have no doubt about my ability to perform the work (looks dead simple actually), but am I actually allowed to? From what I've read the city allows repair to existing installations without a permit but new installations (adding a bathroom etc..) requires a permit. I know if I call a plumber to have this done I'm looking at easily double the cost and I'm a cheap bastard. Would replacing a hot water heater fall under the existing installation loophole?


Do yourself a favor and reach out to National Grid and get concrete and legally reliable answers.


Thanks to recent events (gas explosions, meter tampering, etc...) the city has been clamping down on ConEdison and National Grid, who in turn are doing same to customers.


Every new install of *anything* involving gas from dryer to water heater is now more complex and if an inspector finds something he doesn't like will shut things down.


Without gas for 2 months, family heating bath water in microwave for disabled son | SILive.com


Family Struggles To Keep Home Warm After National Grid Shuts Off Gas « CBS New York


https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/...bing-jobs.page
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Old 05-02-2018, 08:27 AM
 
65 posts, read 36,428 times
Reputation: 115
Wow this is more complicated than I thought. The idea of needing an architect to file plans to have a dryer replaced is absurd. I understand the need for tighter controls on gas since we do live in a city afterall. If I blow up my house I'll probably end up blowing up my neighbor's houses as well. Making things so draconian, expensive, and difficult is just going to push people to do things below board.
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Old 05-02-2018, 08:29 AM
 
Location: Manhattan
25,345 posts, read 36,873,455 times
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I would not think twice about installing a water heater myself. Just turn off gas valve first. If it is electric even easier, just snap the breaker off.


Why not look into an on-demand system: they save fuel and you never need to take a cold shower because your spouse spent an hour in the tub.
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Old 05-02-2018, 08:35 AM
 
Location: New Jersey!!!!
18,874 posts, read 13,756,433 times
Reputation: 21237
You're making this way more complicated than it is. You can do it yourself. That's the answer.
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Old 05-02-2018, 12:05 PM
 
31,656 posts, read 26,523,725 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakamonogatari View Post
Wow this is more complicated than I thought. The idea of needing an architect to file plans to have a dryer replaced is absurd. I understand the need for tighter controls on gas since we do live in a city afterall. If I blow up my house I'll probably end up blowing up my neighbor's houses as well. Making things so draconian, expensive, and difficult is just going to push people to do things below board.


You are new to SI so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.


But let me tell you how things roll on "the Rock". You see all those decks in people's back yards? Want to take a wild guess how many are "legal"?


Unless you tell the city or National Grid no one is going to know you replaced the water heater. Only issues that *may* arise is if something happens and or perhaps at resale if a potential buyer really digs deep to make sure everything is legit.
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