When the hot water in your shower suddenly turns ice cold, you have the right to be frustrated. Installing dielectric nipples on your water heater can help to prevent corrosion, extend the life of your water heater, and reduce maintenance costs. Replacement isnt difficult; you just unscrew the old valve and screw on the new one. You may be able to reuse it on the new water heater. 6. This can be done using a pipe wrench to loosen the connections between the nipples and the water heater. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. plastic) liner on the inside. Corrosion occurs when two different metals come into contact with each other in the presence of an electrolyte such as water. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Does anyone know how/if the dielectric nipples provide any electrical isolation? I've also read about dielectric unions. All codes require a valve on the cold water line. CAUTION: Water heaters are heavy. You are using an out of date browser. and the reason is it will fail first by corrosion/perforation resulting in cooler water output.
Next, cut the copper water lines with a tubing cutter (Photo 3).
Replacing an electric water heater is a little easier. in length. Pipe wrench: A pipe wrench is used to tighten the connections between the dielectric nipples and the water heater. I plan to replace the cold water supply dielectric nipple on my water heater. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? How to search for all text lines that start with a tab character? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. This is necessary to prevent water from spilling out during the installation process. It is electrolysis from two dissimilar metals.
NPT. With the water and gas off, drain the water heater. I don't think I have any of that in the home though; just sheathed wiring I think. To get started, turn off the gas at the valve near the water heater (Photo 1). Cut the cold water line above the old gate valve to make room for a new ball valve. What's the deal on these? Also unscrew the blow tube from the temperature and pressure (T&P) valve. Turn on the water heater and wait for it to heat up. Turn off the power supply and water supply to the water heater before beginning the installation process. Can you post some pictures? By entering your email address and clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Dummies.com, which may include marketing promotions, news and updates.
2 per pack. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Read More Propane Heater For Bed BugsContinue, Read More How Much Propane Does A Tankless Water Heater UseContinue, Read More Propane Vs Electric Water HeaterContinue, Read More Top 10 Best 80 Gallon Electric Water Heater (2022 Latest Price)Continue, Read More Top 10 Best 20 Gallon Electric Water Heater For 2022 (Buying Guide)Continue, Read More Best electric tankless water heater for rvContinue, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form. Thanks. Why is Bb8 better than Bc7 in this position? It only costs about $10 and takes about 10 minutes.
If the isolation valve above your water heater is a gate valve (Photo 3), we recommend that you replace it with a ball valve (Photo 4). Dielectric nipples: These are special types of nipples made of plastic or other non-metallic materials that prevent galvanic action. If the heat trap nipple has an arrow on its side, face the arrow away from the water heater. Keep in mind; it's a bit challenging to pull out the nipple. Plumbers in forums everywhere saying they do different things. Cut the power to the water heater. When i use a coupling to make final solder connection, I wrap a wet rag on lower parts to keep teflon cool. This will ensure that the connections are secure and leak-free. I haven't tried to really force it, I mean hard, but it should go on there without all that. For tips on soldering copper pipe, search for solder above. Dielectric does NOT provide electrical isolation. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! I thought that these nipples were produced to avoid this exact problem. You must log in or register to reply here. This is done by turning on the circuit breaker or fuse that controls the power supply to the water heater, and then turning on the water supply to the water heater. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know.
So the best solution is BOTH the union and the sleeved nipples. A heat trap nipple reduces a water heater's energy consumption. Set the water heater in the drain pan, taking care not to damage the drain pan. In this section, we will discuss some safety precautions that should be taken during the installation process of dielectric nipples on a water heater. To fix this issue, clean the threads with a wire brush or sandpaper to remove any debris, or use a tap to re-thread the damaged area. FrankC. Set the drain pan into place with the opening facing the floor drain. JavaScript is disabled. Open the water valves and an upstairs faucet and fill the tank. Use to connect a water heater to the water inlet and . The only thing important to lessen corrosion damage is that if you have dissimilar metals or water presentany two connected will cause corrosion. Like I mentioned in a previous comment, I would inspect the sacrificial anode rod and replace it if needed. Water Heater Reviews: What Is a Heat Trap? I am amazed at how little standardization there seems to be on this topic.
If this anode tube corrodes/perforated the straw no longer receives the more stable hot water from the bottom of the tankit starts to receive the cooler incoming water through the perforations in the anode resulting in a temperature loss. If the leakage persists, replace the damaged nipple. A flexible gas line can withstand movement and is usually required in earthquake-prone areas. NPT x 3 in. The electricity part can even be static. Once the old nipples are removed, clean the threads on the water heater with a wire brush or a piece of sandpaper to ensure a clean connection for the new dielectric nipples. A water heater uses two heat trap nipples. Then add short sections of pipe below the valves (Photo 4) and make the final connections with slip couplers (Photo 5).
By using dielectric nipples, you can avoid costly repairs that can be caused by corrosion in your water heater. Measurements are 3/4 in. Measure between the union and the tee and add 1 in. Theyre easier to connect than steel pipe, but theyre not allowed everywhere, so check with your inspector. The only thing that stops the electrical flow is a dielectric UNION that puts a non-conductive material between the metals. Test for leaks by brushing soapy water onto every connection. When this condition arises, a cracked or broken dip tube is usually to blame.
Changing a dip tube is easy:
\nCut the power to the water heater.
\nTurn the cold-water inlet valve off.
\nDisconnect the cold-water supply line at the top of the water heater.
\nYoull need to break out a wrench for this step.
\nRemove the nipple to expose the top of the dip tube.
\nThe nipple is a short piece of pipe threaded at both ends.
\nRemove the dip tube by inserting a screwdriver and prying the tube out of the opening.
\nIts best to hold the screwdriver at an angle and use friction to pull out the dip tube.
\nDrop a new tube into the opening.
\nReplace the nipple and supply line, turn on the water and restore power to the unit and you should have hot water!
\nJames Carey and Morris Carey Jr. share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House. to 1 in. Here are pics of the items I think this thread is about. This is necessary to prevent any accidents or damage to the water heater. I use Teflon and then just a little bit of pipe dope on the male threads.
I will check back in with pics and results. Or, is shutting off the water enough? $20 per pair. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Hand tighten the heat trap nipple. Proper installation is essential to ensure that the nipples function correctly and prevent corrosion in the water heater. It may not display this or other websites correctly. NPT x 2-1/2 in. It may not display this or other websites correctly. For more, search for power-vented water heater above. You have copper pipe in contact with galvanized steel pipe. Use all copper next time. Incorrect installation can lead to leakages and other problems that can affect the efficiency of the water heater. But if you do, put in a union so you don't have to do it next time, and if you do THAT, make it a dielectric union. Spin the threads on the heat trap nipple with the blue-colored check valve into the water heater's inlet port, usually labeled "Cold."
James Carey and Morris Carey Jr. share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House.
But if you find even slight holes, cracks or corrosion, toss them into the trash. Though not required by codes, a second valve on the hot line makes future water heater replacement easier. The primary benefit of using dielectric nipples in water heaters is that they prevent corrosion in the water heater tank. That'll trigger a reaction right there. Its best to hold the screwdriver at an angle and use friction to pull out the dip tube. Tighten the nipple using two pipe wrenches (Photo 7). Not sure. Use two or more people to remove or install a water heater if you don't have an appliance dolly.
Connect the building's cold-water supply pipe's fitting to the heat trap nipple with the blue check valve. Reconnect the water.
Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbHPlus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-appFollow This Old House and Ask This Old House:Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFBTwitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitterhttp://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitterPinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterestInstagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIGhttp://bit.ly/AskTOHIGFor more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsiteHow to Replace a Corroded Water-Heater Fitting | This Old Househttps://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/ If not, the exhaust may be entering your home. Dec 29, 2021. Bucket: A bucket is used to catch any water that may spill out during the installation process. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They also appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning.