Water
heater dip tube
Example show electric water heater
Gas water heater has identical dip tube
Inlets on top of tank are labeled Hot and Cold.
Water connections must be correct for water heater to work
Dip tube carries cold water to bottom of tank. Same for gas and electric water heaters.
Symptoms:
Less hot water, plastic piece in hot water.
If dip tube is broken, then there is less hot water available.
Faucets areators can also clog with plastic pieces. Read
Debris in faucet can be caused by many things, not necessarily always the dip tube. Main sympton is reduced amount of hot water. Read
Small risk of damage to tank:
Broken dip tube can damage enamal 'glass-liner' inside water heater when it bounces around inside tank. Read more
Remove tube and inspect.
Quick-test:
Put hose on drain valve.
Open drain valve.
Do not turn off water.
If temperature of water leaving drain hose cools quickly, then that is good and dip tube is delivering cold water to bottom of tank.
Remove cold water nipple and pull out dip tube for inspection.
Image shows dip tube is connected to di-electric cold water nipple. Install using pipe wrench and teflon tape.
Other dip tubes are inserted into top of tank and nipple installed separately.
Buy dip tubes and anode rods
Buy standard dip tube
Buy curved dip tube for sediment control
Install curved dip tube question
Pull dip tube upwards.
Insert 2 screwdrivers, and then cross them like chopsticks to pull up dip tube
Look at product manual for parts illustration
 See detailed image of installation |  Larger image |
Make your own heat traps using incoming pipes.
Some dip tubes have check valve.
Other dip tubes have 'heat traps'
Some water heaters come with heat-trap nipples.
Check valves, heat trap dip tubes, and heat trap nipples can cause clogs. Low water pressure
Available in water heater department at local hardware and box store.
Action prevents electrolytic corrosion or electroysis caused when different metals are connected together.
Different metal pipes can also cause Low Hot Water Pressure
Recycle old water heater
Troubleshoot electric water heater
Troubleshoot gas water heater
