reversed water heater attachments/dip tube

dlthomas · Aug 15, 2009

First, Thank you all for your advice on my previous post.

When I recently went to replace a leaking line going into my gas water heater, I made an AMAZING discovery:

My water heater (which has been on and working fine since at least 1994)
is hooked up BACKWARDS!!!!!!!!!!

The incoming cold water is hooked up to the port labled "hot" on the heater top.

Should I leave it alone or switch the connections? How has it worked all this time improperly installed? ANY COMMENTS??

What does the dip tube in the heater do? Thank you!

Jimbo · Aug 15, 2009

The dip tube carries incoming fresh ( cold ) water to the bottom of the tank, to be heated, and not mix any more than necessary with the already heated water.

The way you are hooked up may have been done out of necessity, and as long as they moved the dip tube to the side with the incoming water, the unit doesn't know which connector on the top is label H and which C.

If they did NOT move the dip tube, you would have symptoms of very short availability of hot water.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Gary Swart · Aug 16, 2009

The dip tube is flared on the top end and the tube is just suspended in the hole by that flare. Why it would have been reversed is something that probably can't be determined, but as Jimbo points out, the heater doesn't know the difference. There would be no point in changing it around now.

hj · Aug 16, 2009

reversed

The only thing that has to be done to reverse the heater properly, is to relocate the dip tube and install the shutoff valve on the left hand, or "hot" side, of the heater.

dlthomas · Aug 16, 2009

THANK YOU! The guy at Home Depot couldn't tell me whet the dip tube was for!

TedL · Aug 16, 2009

dlthomas said:
THANK YOU! The guy at Home Depot couldn't tell me whet the dip tube was for!

Better than giving a wrong answer. The first result in google explains it pretty well.

Cass · Aug 17, 2009

That is why he works there and that is why he shouldn't work there...

Lakee911 · Aug 17, 2009

TedL said:
Better than giving a wrong answer. The first result in google explains it pretty well.

For sure. I wish I would get that more often when someone doesn't know. I just don't ask them anymore (unless I know them and their capabilities).

reversed water heater attachments/dip tube

dlthomas

New Member

Jimbo

Plumber

Sponsor

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Gary Swart

In the Trades

hj

Master Plumber

dlthomas

New Member

TedL

New Member

Cass

Plumber

Lakee911

I&C Engineer (mostly WWTP)

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