Hot Water Heater Help Needed

ETHICS05

I have a hot water heater with a galvanized nipple at the bottom with a brass fitting attached to it which then connect to CPVC piping for the heat recovery unit. Obviously, not the best way (galvanized + brass), but that's the way they did it.

Due to a leak at the brass fitting/galvanized nipple area (picture attached) I started removing the parts only to discover that the nipple has so much corrosion on it I could not get a good enough seal when installing the replacement parts today.

Bottomline is - the galvanized nipple needs to be replaced. You had mentioned that would be wise in a previous post.

Question: how do you take that bugger out? The nipple extends 1 1/2" from the tank with male threaded end. Best way to get at the other end to remove? Replace with a brass nipple?

Thanks for your wisdom guys!

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MechanicalDVR

Internal pipe wrench, vise grips and a mallet

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KillerToiletSpider

An 1-1/2" is enough to get an 18 on it, you'll ruin the threads, but that makes no difference. I would replace it with a brass nipple.

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ETHICS05

Thanks guys! Anything I need to know about the nipple removal when its pulled from inside the tank? Re-inserting the new one w/ or without teflon tape etc? Just want to make sure.

Any negative results from using a brass nipple as it connects inside the tank?"

That's it.

KillerToiletSpider

Brass is safe for a water heater, for brass nipples I always use teflon tape, and then pipe dope on top of that. Make sure you get a long enough nipple to put a pipe wrench on it without harming the threads.

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Celtic

Why do you need to heat hot water?



It's what I do .....

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ETHICS05

Brass nipple came off fine with regular pipe wrench. Tried the internal wrench and it wouldn't budge it.

Used Rectorseal #5 dope with teflon tape - worked great!

Question: I noticed the Heat Recovery Unit is not heating the hot water like before. (Water Heater heats up water fine). Opened the HRU acess door and felt the pipes - 1 cold and 1 hot like it should be. At the Water Heater the HRU pipes are both room temp - 1 should be smokin' hot, right?

Do you think the hose bib at the bottom (refer to picture in post) should be opened while A/C and HRU are running to bleed out any air that might be at the HRU to Water Heater inlet at bottom of tank?

Any other ideas?

KillerToiletSpider

Open a faucet at the highest point in the system, that will get the air out.

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A flush is better than a full house.