Table of Contents
Can you use flex pipe for water heater?
You can use flexible gas tubes or water pipes for a gas water heater in most states. If your existing gas pipe has CSST (corroded stainless steel tubes) or has not been glued, the connection should be replaced right away.
How much does it cost to replace a water heater pipe?
Water and Gas Line Installations Water line installation costs can range from $350 to $1,000, and gas line addition prices can total anywhere from $250 to $800. The costs can really start to add up if you need to extend the gas line to reach the location of the water heater.
How tight should water heater supply lines be?
The most common line is 3/8″ compression to 1/2″ pipe. The pipe end uses a cone washer. Either way, compression or pipe, you hand-tighten the connection plus 1/4 turn. No dope and no tape.
Do you remove plastic inserts in water heater?
No they are not necessary. They can be removed. They are heat trap nipples. They keep the heat in the heater when it is not being used by preventing thermal heat transfer.
Is PEX better than PVC?
When a connection to copper or other metal pipes is required, PEX works better than PVC because crosslinked polyethylene won’t corrode. It’s resistant to freezing (once again, due to its flexibility, which allows the PEX piping’s diameter to expand as the water pressure changes).
Is PEX plumbing better than copper?
We generally belive that Plumbing PEX Tubing is much better than Copper for most, if not all, plumbing systems. PEX Tubing is much more resistant to freeze-breakage than copper or rigid plastic pipe. PEX Tubing is cheaper because it takes much less labor to install. PEX Tubing is quickly becoming the industry standard.
Can PEX be connected directly to a water heater?
PEX can’t be directly connected to a water heater. from your water heater and connect the PEX to the pipe.
Why is PEX plumbing bad?
Potential chemical leaching is another downside of PEX piping. Due to its chemical composition, the PEX pipe material may leach toxic chemicals including bisphenol (BPA), MTBE, tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA), and others.
Can you hard pipe a water heater?
Water heater hoses with ball valves provide a shut-off on the supply side of the water heater. Check your local plumbing codes to see if hard piping to your water heater is required. Stainless Steel corrugated connectors can be used as an alternative to hard piping.
How long does a dip tube last?
The dip tubes in most newer water heaters should last the lifespan of the unit (8–12 years). However, some dip tubes also function as a “sacrificial anode rod”, which means it’s designed to attract all the corrosive elements in the water, ultimately protecting the tank from corrosion.
Can I install a water heater myself?
Installing a water heater is no average DIY project. You must have plumbing, electrical, heating and ventilating and carpentry skills, know state and local building codes, obtain a permit for the work and arrange with your municipality for an inspection of the work.
What is the life expectancy of a water heater?
The type of water heater and where you are located: While many say 8 to 12 years is the expected life for a standard gas-powered water heater, this range can change and be very dependent on where you are located. The level of sediment in your tank affects the lifespan of your water heater.
Should I use Teflon tape on water heater supply lines?
For threaded pipe, you should have a union on both the hot and cold water lines. Use Teflon tape (but not pipe dope) on the male threads entering the flex-connectors. If your water heater has female-threaded tappings, you’ll need a pair of 3/4″ nipples to accept the flex-connectors at the bottom.
Should I use Teflon tape on water heater element?
Unless the new element tells you to, you don’t have to use Teflon tape on the threads. Make sure the element is secured snugly against the tank opening, or the tank will leak from the opening. When you’ve secured the element as snugly as possible, Open the cold water supply valve to fill the water heater.
Do Rheem water heaters have heat trap nipples?
Rheem UV12992 Heat Trap Nipples with 3/4-Inch NPT and 3-Inch Length, 2-Pack – Water Heater Replacement Parts – Amazon.com.
Should I remove water heater heat traps?
Can I remove the heat traps? If your gas or electric water heater is equipped with ball-type heat traps and the noise problems such as “ticking,” “clicking” or “tapping” comes often, some plumbers recommend removing the ball from inside.
What is a heat trap loop?
Heat traps are valves or loops of pipe installed on the cold water inlet and hot water outlet pipes on water heaters. The heat traps allow cold water to flow into the water heater tank, but prevent unwanted convection and heated water to flow out of the tank.
How long does PEX last?
Additionally, long-term testing programs on PEX have shown that it has a potential lifespan of more than 100 years. So, while copper systems may have to be re-piped every few years or decades due to corrosion and pinhole leaks, a PEX system can last 10 times longer — or more.
Where is PEX not allowed?
PEX can’t be installed in high heat areas. You can’t install PEX in high heat areas like near recessed lighting. This also means you can’t connect PEX directly to a hot water heater, but you can use a connecting material to do this.
Does PEX get brittle over time?
Like most other plastics, PEX will become brittle if exposed to sunlight for too long and may crack under pressure. Some manufacturers offer UV-stabilized PEX pipe with added inhibitors which may extend exposure time to around 6 months, but there are no permanent solutions we know of. 7.
Will PEX fittings leak?
PEX pipes are not actually prone to leaking. Accidental holes may occur, but most plumbing leaks happen at connection spots or joints which are caused by incorrect installation.
How do you fix a cracked PEX pipe?
The fix is to cut or bend the metal strap away from the pipe so that it can’t happen again. As for the pipe, cutting out the damaged section and replacing it with new pex and Sharkbite fittings. SB fittings don’t require crimping and are available in a variety of configurations.
