Hello all. Yesterday I installed a new Rheem 50 gallon water heater, with new 24 inch stainless steel corrugated supply lines. According to the instructions on the supply lines, they do not need tape, dope, or lubricant, and they should be hand tightened, +1/4 turn with a wrench. I have done that and the connections to the tank’s dielectric nipples won’t stop dripping. I’ve tried tightening them more than a quarter of a turn, adding thread tape, and still no luck. The dielectric nipples don’t appear to be damaged, and neither do the lines. Can anyone offer any advice? Should I replace the dielectric nipples with new ones and see what happens?
Replies
I’m NO plumber, I call my sub.
What does the end of the supply line and the end of the tank fitting look like?
I don’t have photos of the actual pieces, and I am not on site, but here are photos from a google search:
The one on the left…..that blue end of the fitting, is beveled.
You have a washer in the one on the right.
I’m NO plumber.
Is that washer needed on a “compression” fitting?
Again, I’m no plumber.
The blue end is beveled, it should fit into the other fitting provided that would also be beveled.
Remember, ………..
keep tightening. replacing nipples may void warranty on heater
Good.
A plumber responds.
I had the same issue, and called the flex hose supplier. They verified there was an issue with some of these and provided another. with a different design. Some leaked after the plumber had left, which is not good for the reputation.
If you look at the stainless end, the washer which does the sealing, needs to be thinner to miss the plastic insert, but seal against the threaded part.
If you do not want to do that, you can use a coupler to another nipple , use pipe dope or teflon tape on the threaded seals, and none between the new nipple and your flex connector.