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    kwag01's Avatar
    kwag01 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Feb 1, 2013, 04:49 PM
    What are blue plastic inserts inside nipples on water heater
    Just bought a new Sears hot water tank. Blue insert inside cold water nipple sticks up 1/4". Can't get it to sit down flush with top of nipple. Any ideas?
    creahands's Avatar
    creahands Posts: 2,854, Reputation: 195
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #2

    Feb 1, 2013, 05:01 PM
    Can you show us a picture?

    Sounds like a plug to keep dirt out when in transit.

    Chuck
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #3

    Feb 1, 2013, 05:27 PM
    Hi Kwag

    That is the plastic that makes a dielectric nipple (supplied with all water heaters nowadays) non-conducting. Here, if the nipples didn't have this plastic insert the dissimilar metals between the tank tappings (steel) and the nipples (metal alloy) would create an electrolytic effect that would cause a deposit of minerals at the nipple that would close the nipple down and reduce volume of water delivered to the house.

    I am guessing that the issue you are having is to tighten the new copper fitting onto this nipple, yes? If so, be patient, wrap some teflon tape and/or pipe dope on the nipple, PRE-SOLDER your fitting onto pipe (let it cool) and then get it threaded onto the nipple being careful NOT to cross thread, OK?

    Back to you...

    Mark
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