How to lift a water heater

Need to lift new 40 gal nat gas water heater to its spot inside a 3 inch pan on top a 4 inch platform inside a little closet. So, lift it over 7 inches. Best I can come up with is to place a cinder block on the platform of my hand truck dolly. Or it might take that plus a concrete paver to be over 7 inches tall. Then manhandle the water heater to sit on top that concrete and wheel it into position and somehow get it inside that pan. I've seen some youtubes of water heater dollies using straps but I can't figure out how to do it with my regular hand truck.

Any better ideas? I will be doing this alone unless I just can't do it. I am no muscle man but reasonably strong.

I saw this below and it looks like a great idea. The legs are the key here. Went to HF and they didn't have the strap. I actually just happened to find a piece of strap on the highway that's about 4 ft long and the strap is about 3 inches wide... wonder if I could get a good enough wrap on it to lift it... I can't think of any other strap I might have...

 

I keep a bunch of short length 2x4 and 2 x 6 around for leveraging heavy objects. Tilt tank one way, block under one side, tip the other way repeat. I've moved different wood stoves this way. Small sheets of plywood and those furniture slide pucks help too.

 

I’m not sure of your physical condition but (empty) water heaters don’t weigh much. I pick them up and set them where they need to be. Ask a young buck for help if you know any.

 

This answer ^^^^
Bear hug and go for it you may be surprised.

 

That's what I do. Without water they're light.

 

Yep, empty WH's are easy to move around. The only issue I could see would be the working in a very small closet part...

 

I lifted mine into place by bear hugging it. The stap idea in the video helps if you have the leg and back strength to lift the weight but lack in grip/ hug strength.

Old tie down straps work too. Narrower straps may need to wrap all the way around once or twice. You can also tie a short section or rope or cord in the middle of a longer rope. Locate the space between the two ropes on the far bottom edge of the tank, opposite from where your lifting. One section goes under the tank while other hugs opposite side making a crude sling to help lift and hold tank.

You could walk tank up on 2x4s to get hight needed to then just push tank over into the pan. Tilt tank to one side. Place board under gap. Tilt tank up on board and place another board under tank to make it level. Repeat to build cribbing u der tank. If pan has boards in it so you slide over the pan lid you reverse the board stacking process to lower down into pan.

 

Good eyes boss. In that case I'd suggest renting a young bear to hug it.

 

I usually just lift the tank up by the top pipe with one hand and slip the pan in under the tank with the other hand.

 

And,
Sunday, I'll be singing in the lady's choir.

 

ⁿ

 

Must have really short water tanks in Pennsylvania!

 

Got some really ugly ladies too!

 

How do you know how many women are in the funnel cake line at the Perry County Fair?

I'm a native, so can tell this joke.

You count the teeth and divide by two.

 

My sister and her family live in mechanicsburg and the kids are always making fun of the Perry county kids...
Driving their tractors to school...ect...
(Their 4 kids are 11-18 yo)

 

Yup Proud Perry County Scumbags
Perry County scumbags who want to see Linda Thompson Impeached
Linda Thompson had to apologize

 

yep, and we're rednecks 'round here. Or maybe... mountain folk...



Seems her comment was taken out of context...?...at least, according to her...