## How to Change a Water Heater Coil
A water heater coil is a component that transfers heat from the burner to the water in the tank. Over time, coils can become damaged or corroded, leading to reduced water heating efficiency or even a complete failure of the water heater. If you suspect that your water heater coil needs to be replaced, you can follow these steps to do it yourself.
### Tools and Materials
New water heater coil
Adjustable wrench
Socket wrench
Screwdriver
Plumber’s putty
Teflon tape
Rags or towels
### Safety Precautions
Turn off the water supply to the water heater.
Turn off the gas supply to the water heater.
Allow the water heater to cool down before beginning work.
Wear safety glasses and gloves when working on the water heater.
### Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Remove the water heater access panel. The access panel is typically located at the bottom of the water heater tank. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the panel in place.
2. Drain the water heater. Attach a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater. Open the valve and allow the water to drain into a bucket or other container.
3. Disconnect the water lines. Use an adjustable wrench to disconnect the cold water inlet line and the hot water outlet line from the water heater.
4. Remove the heating element. Use a socket wrench to remove the nuts that hold the heating element in place. Carefully lift the heating element out of the water heater tank.
5. Remove the old water heater coil. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts that hold the coil in place. Carefully lift the coil out of the water heater tank.
6. Apply plumber’s putty to the threads of the new coil. Roll out a small piece of plumber’s putty into a thin rope. Wrap the rope around the threads of the new coil.
7. Install the new water heater coil. Carefully lower the new coil into the water heater tank. Tighten the nuts that hold the coil in place using an adjustable wrench.
8. Reinstall the heating element. Carefully lower the heating element into the water heater tank. Tighten the nuts that hold the heating element in place using a socket wrench.
9. Connect the water lines. Use an adjustable wrench to reconnect the cold water inlet line and the hot water outlet line to the water heater.
10. Turn on the water supply to the water heater. Open the water supply valve fully.
11. Turn on the gas supply to the water heater. Open the gas supply valve fully.
12. Light the pilot light. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to light the pilot light.
13. Check for leaks. Open a hot water faucet and check for any leaks. If you find any leaks, tighten the connections until the leaks stop.
### Troubleshooting
Water heater is not heating water. If the water heater is not heating water after replacing the coil, the problem may be with the heating element. You can test the heating element with a multimeter to see if it is working properly.
Water heater is leaking. If the water heater is leaking after replacing the coil, the problem may be with the connections. Tighten the connections until the leaks stop.
Pilot light goes out. If the pilot light goes out after replacing the coil, the problem may be with the gas supply. Check the gas supply valve to make sure that it is open fully. You can also try lighting the pilot light again.
### Tips
If you are not comfortable working on your water heater yourself, you can call a qualified plumber to do the job for you.
Replacing a water heater coil is a relatively simple job, but it can be time-consuming. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete the job.
Be sure to follow all of the safety precautions when working on your water heater.