I am replacing a 6+ year old Rheem 50 gallon gas water heater with
another 50 gallon gas that is almost identical. I have some questions
about the installation:

1) the old water heater had small metal "legs" that raised it 2-3" off
the floor, which is actually a brick pedestal in my garage. The new
one has no legs and appears to be designed so that the flat bottom just
sits directly on the floor. Do the newer ones not have feet?

2) The cold water inlet is supplied through a brass shutoff valve, with
a piece of copper flex sweated into the outlet of the shutoff valve,
and the other end of the flex goes to the fitting that screws on the
cold water nipple on the old heater. The fitting is *VERY* corroded,
so I plan to replace that entire piece of copper flex. I assume I
should able to just heat up the outlet side of the brass valve, removed
the old copper, and then sweat in a new piece of flex. Is there any
precautions I should take to protect the brass valve from heat during
the sweating/soldering process?


Thanks,
Tim C.