Four Tips to Help You Replace Your Water Heater Using The Hot Rod Hand Truck & Strap Kit
(Results May Vary)
When its time to replace your old water heater, the best way to do it to avoid heavy lifting and limit the chance of injury, is with the help of the Hot Rod Hand Truck & Strap Kit. Please keep in mind the winching and and lifting techniques may take some practice.
Step 1 –Remove The Drain Valve To Drain The Water Heater.
If you think the drain valve is clogged with sediment, or you just want to speed things up, then take it out and replace it with an adapter that connects to your normal drain hose. There’s going to be some water coming out of the tank, but you can prepare for that. The hose adapter can be made, from right-to-left in the picture, with a 3″ nipple, a coupling, and an MIPxMHT adapter. On R-19 tanks, the coupling might interfere with the skin of the tank, but not by much.
Step 2 –The Gas Control Valve Can Be Removed Too.
If you think there’s too much sediment to drain from the bottom, then you can try it from the gas control valve fitting. It’s 3/4 FIP in the tank, so cut it loose and spin it out.
Step 3 –Winch It Out (And Back In Later)
Sometimes a tank has to be brought out bottom first. The pic shows a two-pulley system. Four pullies and two anchor points are better. Your results may vary, this system was designed for efficiency first.
This technique can be used in tight spaces like in or near pantry closets where there’s any kind of header. It can also be used on job sites where the a/c or furnace is plumbed across the water heater space.
Once you have removed the tank, you are ready to set up and use the hand truck.
Step 4 -Use The Cinch Strap (included) To Secure The Tank For Stairs, Uneven Ground Or On Rough Terrain
If you want the security of two hands on your hand truck (dolly), then use your cinch strap the way you always do (when placing new tanks), except make it look like the picture, and be sure you tighten it down. This method works great and is the easiest approach to securing the tank to the hand truck.
