water heater install...heat trap nipples

K

kb97z

New member
Anyone know what direction these go in? The directions are extremely vague. The nipples have a rubber flap in them that sways in either direction.
The only difference in up or down is the that the rubber flap is closer to one end than the other
the nipple is 3 inches long and the flap is about 1 inch from one direction and 2 from the other
i understand the purpose to trap heat towards the heater...so maybe the rubber flaps stay close to the heater???

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K

kb97z

New member
Jus got off phone w Rheem
The tech was no help either...he wanted the cold up and the hot down
I explained the diagram and the replacement parts picture that shows both being up (sorta)
there are 2 flaps inside each nipple that sway either way
you can stick a pen through each way easily
the nipples do not have heat traps as shown in diagram
the nipples are one piece w the traps inside
going to put them in with the flaps towards the top on each (cold n hot)

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G

groomerdriver

New member
They are not color coded? Lots of info on the net if you Google "water heater install...heat trap nipples"

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Copy and pasted from a website:

How to install the heat trap nipples?
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by Manage My Life Last activity date: March 5th, 2010
This is a Kenmore water heater model 153.336433. I have the nipples #9003719 with the heat trap. I need to how it works and which way are they installed, with the flap up or flap down?

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Kenmore , Building Supplies
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Answers (1)
scott d
These nipples help keep the hot water from migrating out of the tank. They help keep the heat in the tank. The flapper has to open on the inlet (cold) side, so it should be up. It has to allow water out on the (hot) side, so the flapper should be down. Make sure you use some teflon tape on the nipples, to help make a good seal. After the nipples and water line is reconnected, open the water valve and run some water out of the tap. If the water comes out ok, you have installed the nipples correctly. If no water comes out, the nipples will have to be reversed. If you need more assistance, please resubmit your question, with additional details.
 
G

groomerdriver

New member
Read more info on these things. Sounds like some people choose not to use them because they restrict the flow of water a bit. They would rather have full pressure and the small amount of heat loss is OK.

I am not a plumber...just trying to help! :)
 
H

highhertel

Member
groomerdriver said:
Read more info on these things. Sounds like some people choose not to use them because they restrict the flow of water a bit. They would rather have full pressure and the small amount of heat loss is OK.

I am not a plumber...just trying to help! :)
Click to expand...

Also seems like they can be noisy after awhile. If not code required, I might think about leaving them out and just make sure your pipes have foam insulation on them.

JHMO

HH
 
C

catalac

Active member
I've installed a lot of heaters and have never heard of them. I would toss those because they would restrict flow, I would think.
You really don't get much hot water migrating out of the tank anyway. Must be something the engineer thought would be a great idea.
I think some heaters have something like that already built in. Don't know why they wouldn't have those in from the factory if they work that good.
 
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K

kb97z

New member
yep put the heat traps up on both sides...working good..first heater only lasted 10 years...pos...had a 7 year warranty on it...need a 75 gallon due to our whirlpool bath..850 the bitch cost...but got a 11% rebate from meee nards hurt
 
H

highhertel

Member
kb97z said:
yep put the heat traps up on both sides...working good..first heater only lasted 10 years...pos...had a 7 year warranty on it...need a 75 gallon due to our whirlpool bath..850 the bitch cost...but got a 11% rebate from meee nards hurt
Click to expand...

Did you think of putting a point of use heater in at the hot tub?

HH
 
F

fastwilly

Member
2-3 hundred more you could of put in a thankless water heater 98% efficacy have all the hot water you can run . just saying
 
S

snocrazy

Active member
Go to big box retail store and you get retail quality junk. Go to a plumbers supply house.
I just picked one up from Banner Plumbing supply down in IL on Lake Cook Rd just west of Milwaukee.
Cost was even lower than big box.
 
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