A water heater replacement involves more than exchanging one tank for another. For this completed project in Roswell, Georgia, BF Plumbing & Drain, Inc. removed the existing water heater and installed a new Rheem 40-gallon natural gas model. The job also included a new thermal expansion tank, a cold-water shutoff valve, hard copper water connections, and a drain pan.
The customer's project called for a complete replacement installation, including disposal of the old equipment and testing of the new system. Our crew filled the tank, purged air from the water lines, ignited the burner, and checked the water and gas connections for leaks. The finished installation brought together the new heater and its supporting components, with proper operation verified before cleanup.
A Complete Water Heater Replacement in Roswell
This project took place in Roswell, in northern Fulton County, Georgia. The work centered on replacing an existing water heater with a specified Rheem 40-gallon natural gas unit. The project notes do not identify a particular failure or symptom in the old heater, so the documented scope is a replacement rather than a diagnosis of the previous equipment.
Our crew handled both sides of that replacement: removing and disposing of the old water heater, then furnishing and installing the new equipment. Labor, standard installation materials, equipment, and disposal were included in the job. That scope kept the tank installation and its associated plumbing work together as one project.
The new unit retained natural gas as the fuel source. The installation scope called for reconnecting the existing gas supply, exhaust venting, and temperature and pressure relief valve discharge piping as applicable. These connections were part of the replacement work, rather than a separate fuel-conversion project.
New Components Around the Rheem 40-Gallon Tank
Alongside the new water heater, we installed a 2-gallon thermal expansion tank with a support bracket. The expansion tank was pressurized to match the home's water pressure. Matching that pressure is an installation detail that matters because the expansion tank works with the water system, not independently of it.
A thermal expansion tank accommodates the increase in water volume that occurs as water heats. For this job, the specified tank size was 2 gallons, and the bracket provided dedicated support for that component. The installation therefore addressed both the expansion tank's pressure setting and how it was supported.
We also installed a new 3/4-inch brass ball valve on the cold-water supply. This valve provides a shutoff point for the water entering the heater. Including it in the replacement scope addressed an important service connection instead of limiting the work to the tank alone.
Hard Copper Connections and a New Drain Pan
The hot- and cold-water connections were reconfigured as needed using hard copper piping. Replacement equipment must connect to the property's existing plumbing, and the work at those connection points forms a distinct part of the installation. Here, hard copper was the specified material for the necessary changes.
The cold-water inlet brings water into the tank, while the hot-water outlet connects the heater to the property's hot-water piping. Our work addressed both sides of that connection. The new brass ball valve formed part of the cold-water supply arrangement, while the copper piping connected the replacement heater to the existing system.
A new water heater drain pan was also included. The pan is a separate installation component from the tank and the thermal expansion equipment. The recorded scope confirms a new pan, without identifying any additional drain-routing work or changes beyond that installation.
Connection work like this overlaps with our pipe and leak services. On this project, however, the copper work was specifically part of installing the new water heater. The job notes do not describe a separate pipe leak repair elsewhere at the property.
Reconnection, Filling, and Operating Checks
With the replacement equipment installed, our crew addressed the existing gas supply, exhaust venting, and relief-valve discharge connections as applicable to the installation. These serve different purposes from the water inlet and outlet, so completing the replacement required attention to more than the water piping.
We filled the water heater and purged air from the water lines before completing startup. Filling establishes the tank's water supply, while purging removes air introduced during the plumbing work. Our crew then ignited the burner as part of bringing the new natural gas heater into operation.
Testing covered all water and gas connections for leaks, followed by verification of proper operation. These checks were the documented completion steps for the new installation. Afterward, our crew cleaned up the work area and completed disposal of the removed water heater.
The Finished Installation and Warranty Coverage
The completed project provided a new Rheem 40-gallon natural gas water heater with a supported 2-gallon expansion tank, a new cold-water ball valve, hard copper connection work, and a new drain pan. The result was a replacement installation with its water and gas connections tested and operation verified.
The supplied warranty coverage includes a 6-year manufacturer's limited tank warranty and a 1-year BF Plumbing & Drain labor and workmanship warranty. Those are separate forms of coverage: one applies to the tank under the manufacturer's limited warranty, and the other addresses our labor and workmanship. They should not be read as identical coverage for every component.
Planning Similar Water Heater Work
For customers considering a similar replacement, this project illustrates why the scope should identify the supporting components as well as the heater itself. Tank capacity, fuel type, water connections, expansion equipment, shutoff access, and removal of the old unit are separate details to address. Our water heater services page provides a starting point for discussing that work.
Questions involving faucets or other indoor plumbing can be discussed through our fixture and indoor plumbing services; those were not part of this replacement. To discuss a Roswell water heater project, call 404-706-2958 or find BF Plumbing & Drain, Inc. on Google.