I just put in a new hot water heater. I noticed plastic and flaps inside the nipples, the nipples came with Teflon on so I put Teflon side down and installed the hot water heater. I'm not a plumber and I thought the nipples were funny so I started googling and noticed that the hot side and the cold side are probably different. There was nothing to tell me which one was hot or cold so I have a 50% chance that I put them on the wrong side :(

Is this dangerous? Does it make that much of a difference that I should be concerned and take it apart and check ( it took me 1/2 a day to connect it so its no short job to check and if I was wrong swap them).

Much thanks!!

There should be an arrow on this type of nipple.

https://www.ehow.com/how_10041692_install-heat-trap-nipple.html

https://www.shopyourway.com/questions/1070897

Read carefully.

My best suggestion though is have a qualified plumber check your installation.

Hi Mike

If they had teflon on them from the factory and they were not clearly marked with arrows on them then you have the simple flat flapper style heat trap nipples and they can go in either hot or cold, so you should be all set here.

Mark

Wouldn't it be true that if he installed them upside down, he would get no water?

Hi John

If they were of the ball type, yes you are correct he would not get flow. However, he said, "
I noticed plastic and flaps inside the nipples", so these should be the newer flat, flap type heat traps and direction should not matter in this case!