How to Remove a Gas Wall Heater?
If you’ve decided to get rid of your gas wall heater, there are some things you need to consider before you begin. This guide will give you a step-by-step process for removing a gas wall heater and help you avoid any hazards that might arise during the removal process.
Table of Contents
Remove the wall heater top
To remove the top of your gas wall heater, you’ll first need to remove any screws that hold it in place. You should see some or all of these screws on either side or underneath the top panel. Use a screwdriver to unscrew them from their holes in the wall heater’s body.
The top will come off easily once you’ve removed these screws, but there may be more supports inside holding it up—be careful when removing this second layer so you don’t disturb other parts inside your heater!
Disconnect the gas line
You need to turn off the gas supply before you can disconnect the gas line. To do this, use a wrench to loosen the gas valve and turn it counterclockwise until it stops. This will prevent any leaks or accidental fires while you’re working on your wall heater.
Once you’ve turned off the valve, it’s time to unscrew your existing wall heater and remove its connector from the pipe that runs up through your ceiling. Use pliers if necessary; don’t worry about damaging anything as long as no one touches exposed metal parts while they are live!
Once you’ve disconnected all connections between your old wall heater and its outlet (including power cords), pull out any remaining wires and take note of where each one goes so that you know what part of your new unit matches up with which old one when installing it later on in this process (if applicable).
Cut the wires
- First, you’ll need to cut the wires running from your wall heater so that they are no longer connected to the power source. Use a wire cutter or stripper (if necessary) to carefully snip through each individual wire and expose bare copper beneath. Be careful not to accidentally cut into live wires!
- Next, strip off any insulation on the exposed copper with a pair of pliers or a stripping tool until you have nothing but bare copper exposed at both ends of your cut wires. Make sure there is no visible copper left in between each individual wire—this will help ensure better conductivity when you connect them back together later on in Step 4 below!
- Finally, use a regular twist-on connector (also called an electrical terminal) along with some electrical tape (or shrink tubing if available) wrap around it once again for good measure so that no moisture can sneak inside during subsequent steps; this will help ensure that these connections stay strong even after several months’ worth of wear-and-tear down time due primarily thanks towards corrosion caused by constant exposure over years upon years during periods where these parts aren’t being actively used regularly within households either due primarily thanks towards corrosion caused by constant exposure over years upon years during periods where these parts aren’t being actively used regularly within households either due primarily thanks towards corrosion caused
Unscrew the gas valve and gas line
There are two main types of gas connections: a union and a pipe nipple. A union is a male fitting that screws into the gas wall heater. A pipe nipple is the female connection on your gas line, which is attached to your fireplace or water heater.
Before you start disconnecting these parts, make sure you have turned off all pilot lights and shut off valves leading to the appliance. Now unscrew the old valve with an adjustable wrench until it’s loose enough for you to pull out by hand. Don’t forget about any other parts that might impede removal (like hose clamps), so that you don’t damage them when removing other pieces from the threads!
If there’s no way around it, use an extra set of hands to hold things together while you loosen them—the last thing we want here is another injury accident!
Caulk the opening
You will need to caulk the opening. Caulk is a sealant used to fill gaps in the wall. It comes in different colors and thicknesses and can be purchased at most home improvement stores.
Apply a thick bead of caulk along each side of the cutout area, on top of the framing lumber, and behind where you originally removed your gas wall heater with your sawzall. Press it down firmly with your finger so that it sticks well to both surfaces and makes an airtight seal between them.
Removing a gas wall heater may require help from a plumbing expert
To remove a gas wall heater, you may need to call in the help of a plumbing expert. A plumber can assist with removing the gas line and valve so that they can be replaced by an electric wall heater or other device. The plumber should know how to disconnect the pipes from the gas main and install them onto your new device. If you’re not sure what type of plumbing work is involved in removing your existing heating unit, it’s best to hire a professional for this job.
Conclusion
Removing a gas wall heater is a fairly simple process that can be completed with some basic tools and assistance from an expert. Before starting on this project, make sure you have the right equipment, including:
- Drill
- Saw
At the end of it all, you’ll have a nice new opening where your old unit was.