SharkBite 22441LF kit
$14.54 at Amazon
Check it on AmazonPrice as of Oct 23, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
What goes in a water heater installation kit
The water-side parts for a tank heater swap, and the rule each one has to meet.
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On this page
Quick answer
Two 3/4 in. water connectors, a cold-side shutoff, an expansion tank on a closed system, a drain pan, and a full-size relief valve pipe. Gas and venting are separate.
Connector with its own shutoff: SharkBite Max 18 in.$45.99 at AmazonPrice as of Oct 23, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
Check it on AmazonWhich parts does your swap need?
Answer three questions about your setup. The checker builds your parts list.
A boxed “installation kit” on Amazon usually means just two flexible connectors. A real swap needs more than that, and the extra parts are where inspections fail. This page covers the water side of a residential tank heater: cold in, hot out, the relief valve pipe, the expansion tank and the pan.
If you’re still pricing the job, the cost to install a tankless water heater covers the tankless side, and best water heaters covers choosing the tank.
Connectors, an expansion tank and a drain pan
Four parts cover the water side of most tank swaps. I’ve used every item in this kit.
SharkBite Max 18 in.
$45.99 at Amazon
Check it on AmazonPrice as of Oct 23, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
Amtrol ST-5
$67.00 at Amazon
Check it on AmazonPrice as of Oct 23, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
Everflow AWHP22 pan
$28.11 at Amazon
Check it on AmazonPrice as of Oct 23, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
| Part | Key specs | Pick it if | Skip it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| SharkBite 22441LF | Two 3/4 in. push × FNPT connectors plus a disconnect clip; PEX, copper, CPVC, HDPE, PE-RT; 200°F, 200 psi | The house pipes come straight down to the heater’s nipples. | The pipes are offset. Use flexible connectors. |
| SharkBite Max URSS3088FX18BV | 18 in. corrugated stainless, 3/4 in. push × 3/4 in. FIP, built-in ball valve; 180°F, 200 psi | The pipes don’t line up, or you want a shutoff right at the heater. | Your heater’s manual calls for a different connector, or the gas code where you are bans corrugated water connectors near the flue. Check. |
| Amtrol ST-5 | 2 gal, 8 × 13 in., 3/4 in. connection; 150 psi, 200°F | The house has a check valve, PRV or backflow device (a closed system). | Your heater is bigger than 50 gallons. Amtrol steps up to the ST-12. |
| Everflow AWHP22 | Aluminum; 22 in. base, 24 in. top, 2.5 in. deep; PVC adapter for a 1 to 1-1/2 in. drain | The heater sits where a leak would damage the house. | The heater’s base is wider than about 21 inches. Measure it. |
SharkBite’s listing rates the 22441LF kit to 200°F and 200 psi, and the Max corrugated connector to 180°F and 200 psi. Both say they can go on wet lines, which helps when a shutoff won’t quite seal. The Max connector’s listing says it’s designed for electric or gas water heaters with a flue vent.
Amtrol’s data book lists the ST-5 at 2.0 gallons with a 0.45 acceptance factor, rated 150 psi and 200°F. Our water heater expansion tank guide has the sizing chart.
Rigid push fittings or flexible connectors?
Both work. The pipe layout decides.
| Choice | Use it when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Push kit (22441LF) | Pipes drop straight to the nipples within the kit’s reach | Pipe ends must be square, deburred and inserted to full depth |
| 18 in. flexible connector | Pipes are offset or at a different height | Don’t kink or stretch it; leave a gentle loop |
| Connector with ball valve | No shutoff at the heater, or the old one is seized | Put the valve on the cold inlet; a hot-side valve can trap the heater |
| Threaded nipples and unions | Copper soldered system, by preference | Use dielectric fittings where the heater maker calls for them |
- 1Shut off power or gas and water
Turn the breaker off on an electric heater, or the gas valve to off on a gas heater, then close the cold supply.
- 2Drain and disconnect the old heater
Open a hot faucet to break the vacuum and drain the tank through its drain valve to a safe spot.
- 3Wrap the nipples
Use thread sealant on the heater’s 3/4 in. male nipples as the connector maker says.
- 4Connect cold and hot
Cold to the inlet marked on the heater; hot to the outlet. Snug the FIP nuts; don’t overtighten.
- 5Fill before power
Open a hot faucet and refill the tank until water runs steady, then restore power or gas.
Filling before power is the step that saves electric elements. An element that heats in air burns out in seconds. Our water heater element replacement guide covers the fix if it happens.
Push fittings need a clean, square pipe end. A burr or a scratched copper pipe is the usual cause of a weep at a push fitting, not the fitting itself.
The relief valve discharge pipe rules
Every tank heater has a temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve. Its pipe is what inspectors check first.
| 2021 IPC 504.6 item | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Air gap in the same room | The pipe ends visibly, not tied straight into a drain |
| Not smaller than the valve outlet | Run the full 3/4 in. all the way |
| Serves one relief device only | No sharing with another heater or a softener |
| Discharge to the floor, the pan, a waste receptor or outdoors | Pick one of those, readily seen |
| No traps or sags; drains by gravity | Pipe slopes down the whole way |
| Ends 6 in. or less above the floor or drain | So hot water doesn’t spray anyone |
| No threads at the end; no valves or tees | So nobody can cap or shut it |
| Pipe rated at least 100 psi at 180°F | Copper or CPVC, not PVC |
These come from ICC’s own explanation of the 2021 IPC and IRC relief-valve rules. Your town may use a different edition with amendments, so confirm with the local inspector. ICC also notes that a relief line ending in a shower, tub, laundry tray or kitchen sink isn’t a safe termination.
Replacing the valve itself? T&P relief valve replacement by size covers matching the rating.
Do you need an expansion tank?
Water expands as it heats. On a closed system, it has nowhere to go.
- 1Find out if the system is closed
A pressure reducing valve, a check valve or a meter backflow device closes it. Ask the water utility if unsure.
- 2Size the tank
Amtrol’s chart uses the heater size and your house pressure; the ST-5 covers most 40 to 50 gallon heaters.
- 3Set the precharge
Amtrol’s sizing assumes the tank’s air charge matches your static house pressure. Check it with a tire gauge before you install it.
- 4Mount it on the cold line
Install on the cold supply near the heater and support it; don’t hang its weight on thin pipe.
Amtrol’s instructions say a licensed professional must install and periodically inspect the tank, and not to install it where temperatures can exceed 200°F or freeze. A dripping relief valve after a swap is often thermal expansion, not a bad valve.
Our expansion tank guide compares the Amtrol, Eastman and Watts tanks with a full sizer.
When the heater needs a drain pan
A pan catches slow leaks and relief discharge before they reach the floor.
| Pan point | Baseline (ICC 2021 IPC training, 504.7) |
|---|---|
| Where | Where leakage would cause damage |
| Depth | At least 1-1/2 in. |
| Drain size | At least 3/4 in. |
| Drain ends | Over an indirect waste receptor, a floor drain, or outdoors |
The Everflow AWHP22 is 2.5 in. deep with a 22 in. base and comes with a PVC adapter for a 1 to 1-1/2 in. drain line. Measure the heater’s base before you buy: a 50 gallon tank can be wider than a 22 in. pan’s floor.
Our water heater drain pan guide covers sizing and where the drain can legally go.
Mistakes that fail an inspection or flood a closet
The same few slip-ups show up on swap after swap.
| Mistake | Why it matters | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Relief pipe reduced to 1/2 in. | Item 3 of IPC 504.6 bans a pipe smaller than the valve outlet | Run 3/4 in. the whole way |
| Relief pipe in PVC | ICC requires a pipe rated 100 psi at 180°F | Use copper or CPVC |
| Threaded cap or valve on the relief pipe | Items 11 and 12 ban both | Leave the end plain and open |
| No expansion tank on a closed system | Pressure spikes as the tank heats, so the relief valve drips | Add a sized tank on the cold line |
| Pan with no drain line | It only holds a few gallons | Pipe the pan drain to an approved spot |
| Power on before filling | Electric elements burn out dry | Run a hot faucet until it flows steady first |
| Old connectors reused | Rubber seals and braid age | Fit new connectors with every heater |
Most of these are cheap to get right on day one and expensive later. A reduced or capped relief pipe is the one that can hurt someone, because it stops the valve from doing its job when the tank overheats. ICC’s explanation says plainly that a threaded end invites someone to cap a dripping line.
A relief valve that drips right after a new install usually means pressure, not a bad valve. Check the house pressure with a gauge on a hose bib; our water pressure gauge guide covers the tool.
Gas and venting are separate jobs
A gas heater also needs a gas connector, a shutoff, a sediment trap and a correctly sized vent. Those follow the fuel gas code and the heater’s manual, and many areas require a licensed gas fitter and a permit. This page doesn’t cover them.
If you smell gas after any work, leave the house and call the gas utility from outside. A combustible gas leak detector helps check joints, but it doesn’t replace a pressure test.
Before you call it done
- 1Leaks
Dry paper towel around every connection, then again an hour later.
- 2Relief pipe
Full size, slopes down, ends 6 in. or less above the floor or drain, no threads at the end.
- 3Thermostat
Set it to the temperature the heater’s manual recommends.
- 4Pan and drain
Pan under the heater, drain run to its approved spot.
- 5Permit and inspection
Many towns require both for a water heater swap.
Keep the manual and the receipt with the heater. Most tank warranties need proof of purchase, and the manual has the maker’s yearly flushing steps. A water heater flush kit makes that job quicker.
Questions people ask
What comes in a water heater installation kit?
Usually two 3/4 in. water connectors. A full swap also needs a cold-side shutoff, a relief valve pipe, and often an expansion tank and a drain pan.
What size connectors does a water heater use?
Most residential tank heaters have 3/4 in. male threaded nipples, so connectors are 3/4 in. FIP on the heater end.
Are SharkBite fittings OK on a water heater?
SharkBite rates its 22441LF kit to 200°F and 200 psi and its Max corrugated connector to 180°F. Follow the heater manual and local code.
Do I need an expansion tank for a new water heater?
On a closed system (a PRV, check valve or meter backflow device), yes in most codes. Size it to the heater and your pressure.
Where should the relief valve pipe end?
Per the 2021 IPC, at the floor, the pan, a waste receptor or outdoors, 6 in. or less above the floor or drain, with no threads at the end.
Does a water heater need a drain pan?
Where a leak would cause damage, the IPC baseline calls for one at least 1-1/2 in. deep with a 3/4 in. drain.
Can I use PVC for the relief valve pipe?
No. ICC says the pipe must be rated at least 100 psi at 180°F. Use copper or CPVC.
Should the shutoff valve go on the hot or cold side?
The cold inlet. That lets you isolate the heater without closing its hot outlet.
How I put this together
Why trust me
I’m Isaac Daniels, a licensed journeyman plumber in Georgia (license #JP507711), and I’ve used every part in the kit. The code points come from ICC’s explanation of the 2021 IPC and ICC training material, and the part specs from SharkBite, Amtrol and Everflow product data, read on Oct 23, 2026.
How I pick
- One part for each job: connect the water, absorb expansion, catch leaks.
- Real brands with model numbers that match the maker.
- New and in stock on Amazon on the day of the update.
- No scores: each part does a different job, so they’re listed as a kit.
- Prices come from Amazon’s API with the time they were read.
Sources
- International Code Council, “Water heater relief valve discharge piping,” explanation of 2021 IPC 504.6 and IRC P2804.6.1 (iccsafe.org).
- International Code Council, 2021 IPC/UPC Essentials training, IPC 504.7 water heater pans, Feb. 26, 2024 (iccsafe.org).
- Amtrol, submittal data book MC4400 (ST-5) and thermal expansion tank installation instructions 9015-942.
- SharkBite, 22441LF and URSS3088FX18BV product data as listed on Amazon by the brand.
- Everflow, AWHP22 product data.
- Amazon product data for B00312CE4Y, B0CNTKQ5ZB, B08BZTFDRD and B07PB777RR, read through the Creators API on Oct 23, 2026.