I'm trying to get our new hot water heater into a pan, but there's not much room to maneuver. It got pushed into a compact closet without the pan being placed first. The closet is elevated with only about 2 inches of clearance on each side, and we just don't have the strength to lift it at this angle. I'm worried that using boards for leverage might damage the bottom. Does anyone have any ideas on the safest way to lift it up?
3 Answers
If you can manage to lift it, just remember that safety is key. Don't use leverage without a good plan—you could damage something. If you do use wood, ensure it’s sturdy enough to support the weight as you lift it incrementally. And good news: those pans are designed to catch leaks, so if water starts showing up, it’s a heads-up that something’s wrong.
One option is to start by emptying the tank to make it lighter, then try tipping it back a bit. If you can tip it, you could potentially slide thin wooden boards underneath and tap them in with a hammer to raise it gradually. Just make sure the boards are thin enough to allow the pan to fit underneath once the heater is lifted. Also, don't forget to check if the pan has a drain. If it doesn't, that's kind of pointless, right?
Definitely drain it first! Just to give you a heads up, a 40-gallon water heater can weigh over 330 pounds when full, so it’s not just about lifting it but doing it safely. If tipping doesn’t work for you, another option could be to disconnect it completely and have someone help you carry it out, place the pan in, then bring it back in. Just make sure you have a friend to help!