Disconnecting a water heater

homeguy said:

I have a water heater in my garage connected by copper pipes, i need to remove it temporarily to redo the floors. how do i disconnect the pipes. Use a blowtorch to heat the pipes or just cut the pipe with a tube cutter?
thanks in advance

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I would cut the pipes with a tube cutter. Repair with sweat couplings when you put it back. Use compression couplings if you are not up to soldering.

rjniles is 100% right as to the correct way to do it.

Personally, I'd heat a couple of the joints and pull them apart. Then before reinstalling, clean off all the old solder before putting it back together. This way there are less joints in the end, and no need to buy anything.

The reason rjniles' method is probably the preferred one is that if you don't clean the old joints extremely well then they may leak. Also, it's easier to damage things or deform the pipes my way. Lazier, too. :thumbup:

Cut the tubing, when reinstalling install unions so it's easier when you have to replace the WH.

I would say that getting the length of the pipes* right is much more critical when replacing a water heater using unions.

Unless there is vertical give in the pipes up above for example the pipes turn horizontally and run some distance before disappearing into wall or ceiling and can be bowed up or down a tad.

* The vertical sections just above the heater.