And DON’T FUCK WITH NATURAL GAS! Let the professionals do it. I guy near Detroit killed his entire family last year swapping out a hot water heater himself. He survived. The house was no longer there.

Or, ya know, be competent at it. I've swapped out a gas water heater, gas range, and gas clothes dryer, all of which have been in service for years now, and haven't blown up yet.

(That said, at this point I would recommend transitioning away from natural gas if you can, by installing heat pump or induction electric appliances instead. Better indoor air quality, better efficiency/sustainability, enabling the possibility of completely eliminating a gas bill including the fixed base charge for pipe maintenance, enabling the possibility of eventually running the whole house on solar, etc.)