Who hooks up the electric on the electric hot water heater, plumber or electrician?

Question

I had a new electric hot water heater put in. Who is supposed to hook up all the electric? The plumber who put it in or an electrician? And is it supposed to be sitting directly on the floor?

Answer 1

You need to call an electrician

Answer 2

Usually an electrician hooks up a new water heater(say if you were building a house). If you are replacing a water heater the plumber hooks the water heater up providing that all work is done inside the appliance. He can not run a longer line to the water heater for example. If the water heater is in a garage you usually have to place it on a platform. If it is in a finished area you should have a pan. If it's in an unfinished basement you can have it on the floor.

Answer 3

I'd suggest getting an electrician to do it and have the water heater up on an elevated platform. In most states thats now required by code anyway.  

Answer 4

If you are replacing an older one, its not hard to connect and a plumber might be willing to do it.  If its a new location or the first time an electric model has been installed there, you'll need an electrician.

If its on a cement basement floor near a floor drain, it can sit on the floor.  If not, a pan to catch small leaks or drips.  You should also be sure the high pressure release valve has a pipe attached to route the hot water down to the floor in the event the pressure gets too high.  Not likely, but if it does you don't want hot water flying all over the place.  The plummer should do that part.

Answer 5

Electrician.  Should be sitting in a Water Heater Pan, not directly on the floor

Answer 6

The electrician, they are qualified to recognize possible problems, like wrong size wire or no ground.  

Answer 7

I suggest raising the heater off the floor and away from any walls. Also, you probably have a friend/acquaintance that can make sense of the owners manual that comes with all new major appliances. Good Luck

Answer 8

Normally the plumber who installed it connects the electric line as well. It is ok sitting on a concrete floor.