help!! corroded water heater nipple


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Old 06-27-22, 08:34 PM
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help!! corroded water heater nipple

my water heater is jusr over a year old but is very corroded on the cold side…. what can i do to fix and prevent this
 
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Old 06-27-22, 08:44 PM
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A year.....

You're going to have to cut the copper pipe above the fitting and carefully remove it.
Since the fitting is brass it should come apart.
You'll need a good pair of Channel Lock pliers.

Is that tank just "hanging out" there in free air ?
 
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Old 06-28-22, 01:57 AM
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On another note, they make flex flue pipes but that's not one, I'd be a bit more concerned about that.
 
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Old 06-28-22, 05:02 AM
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what about the flue pipes? im not familiar with what that is… what should i be concerned about?
 
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Old 06-28-22, 05:03 AM
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the tank is just standing there…. im not sure what you mean by in free air tho
 
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Old 06-28-22, 05:30 AM
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That appears to be a piece of dryer vent, flex exhaust pipes have fittings on the ends to make them gas tight not duct/metal tape.

Just and observation, make sure you have a CO alarm in the area.




 
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Old 06-28-22, 05:56 AM
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ok that is concerning… i do have a co detector tho… im surprise none of the plumbers ever mentioned that… and i had a few from big companys to plumbers i know… it was like that when i got the house… i plan on selling it soon but as far as this corrosion what should i do
 
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Old 06-28-22, 08:20 AM
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The blue expansion tank should be tethered to the joists above perhaps using some cloth or leather straps. Otherwise, if it should fail in a certain way (air leak at the far end) it could fill with water, become too heavy, and snap/break/crack off resulting in a huge flood.

If you are lucky the nipple has not rusted so badly that it breaks in the middle as you try to unscrew it from the water heater.
 
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Old 06-28-22, 02:09 PM
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can i unscrew it and put a new one in? if so how should i to prevent the corrosion
 
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Old 06-28-22, 03:12 PM
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Could have just been a bad part, the other one is ok, get a brass ripple!
 
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Old 06-28-22, 05:57 PM
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The nipple probably rusted because it wasn't installed quite right and was leaking at the threads.
 
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Old 06-29-22, 05:00 AM
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i think your right… because it was SLIGHTLY leaking at the thread when it got installed
 
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Old 07-01-22, 10:46 AM
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That appears to be a piece of dryer vent
I believe that's 4" aluminum flex used mostly for bath exhaust fan vents. It's definitely NOT approved for water heater venting. The install looks like a real hack job to me, but that's just my opinion.
 
 

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