Water Heater Repair Replacing a Corroded Supply Line 

I’m glad that they don’t edit the struggle moments. That make me have confidence, I feel like “it’s normal don’t do it easy but I can do it”

This was an exact replacement for the old one that lasted about 10 years. ru-vid.comUgkx7yWIKcrbA9KMHkGSfcgxW2lsjHT6B8Sh The top of my mitigation tube by my roofline was just a 90 elbow which allowed too much debris to fall down into the fan, eventually ruining it. Without this issue, I bet it would have kept running another 10 years. When I replaced this fan, I added an extra elbow joint so the top tube now it does a 180, which should solve that problem. The radon guys around here wanted to charge me a $300 diagnostic fee, then parts/labor (probably close to $600 total). I installed this all by myself in about an hour for the cost of the fan; it would probably be even easier/faster with two people. FYI the manufacturer's warranty greatly differs depending on whether you install it yourself (1 yr warranty) or have a licensed installer do it (10 yrs).

I actually appreciated that the guy before me left the labels on the corrugated pipes, since, as a homeowner not a plumber, I could not tell by eye that they were 3/4" FIP. This way I could buy new BEFORE tearing it apart and leaving the house water off while I ran to the plumbing supply house. Sped up the process, less angst for the wife.

I tighten the fitting just a bit to break it loose then remove normally. A trick I have been using for years

Excellent video for not editing out the struggle removing the fitting.

Love an honest video that shows all the possibilities of encounters & how to deal with those problems. Hate most videos that actually go as far to edit skip entire whole STEPS Because they had problems& they just don't want to show any problems they had.

"There are a few challenges along the way" . I repair with success my tank today, because you show in your video, how to face some difficulties. Thanks again

DIYers be mindful that rocking and partial rotation of the tanks piped with rigid natural gas piping could compromise gas connections especially at unions. Excellent video for electric water heater.

Thank you for a "real" world example of replacing a heat-trap nipple with all the effort.

Thanks Dan and Sarah both of you for recording and sharing this project! I also having similar leaking from the cold inlet, scared to do by myself but local technicians suggesting to replace the entire thing! I wanted to give a try and looking to find someone who can help me! My one might have dip stick pipe connected, little complicated.

Thank you Sarah for wiping up that rusty gunk on the top of the tank. You are not the only one that it was driving crazy !!

Thank you. Had the same problem with mine and used this video to fix. I had called four plumbers and no calls back. Now it’s fixed and all I had to buy was some tape, dope and a hose kit. I really appreciate your video! Most the videos I saw were gas jobs. Finally saw this video and it looked exactly like my electric unit.

Thanks. Great video. Gotta change one of the supply lines too. Your instructions were very thorough, but easy to understand.

Thank you. I was going to call a plumber but after watching your video decided to try it myself. I was concerned because I had to cut the copper pipe to remove the connection. It had a one piece soldered on copper flex pipe w/fitting. I purchase a flex hose from home depot that had a "shark-bite" end so I could just push on. Looks like it made a good seal and all is working. I will check off &on over next couple days.

Thank you Dan! It saved me replacing the water heater as recommended by the plummer!

Dan, just changed out my lines. Very helpful. Keep up the great tutorials.

Thank you so much! I was struggling to get the anode rod off on my Bradford White water heater and tapping it with the hammer made all the difference!!! I was able to replace both the anode rod and the hydrojet water inlet pipe.

Thanks for posting this video. It gave me the confidence to replace my leaking supply hose. I probably should have replaced the heat trap nipple too but the non threaded part was too far down to reach with the wrench and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to tighten a new one without damaging its threads. Otherwise the repair was relatively quick and easy..

Great explanation and detailed work. like your patience I would've used the F word in some occasions. 👍👍💯

This video gave me the confidence to repair my water heater. Damn cold inlet corroded. Gave me an opportunity to use the induction heater I recently bought-it made the nipple relatively simple to remove

This was EXTREMELY helpful. I need to get on this, this week!

Good video, sending it to my son to replace his. Couple of things I would do different, remove the gasket from the old hose and thread it on the new nipple, then you can use the wrench to tighten it without damaging the threads. Also, when I use Teflon tape, I don't cover the first two or three threads so it's easier to start putting on the new hose by hand.

I love seeing people do these kinds of repairs. It gives me and others confidence on doing the same. Great video and excellent effort. That fitting took a lot of blows to remove... wow!

Long video, but absolutely worth it!! Great job on your production vales, too. This is exactly the part I need to take care of. Thank you.

Awesome video. I have this exact problem, but my tank is sooo old I think I will just have it replaced. Great video!

Just came home from a week long vacation to find this exact problem. Thank you very much for the video. Going to try and replace it tomorrow.

Great video presentation, gives me confidence to work on my water heater .

Thank you!, I have a solar hot water heater and the nipple for the pump supply line started leaking, company that installed system wouldn't touch it because they were afraid it would break during removal. Wanted $2400 to replace the tank. Local plumbing company told me same thing. Got the replacement nipple/dip tube assembly from the manufacturer Bradford White for $36 including shipping. Used a pipe wrench and hammer to tap it out just like you showed, came out easy and installed new one myself, system works perfect now!

Thanks so much! I was able to replace my supply line because of your video.

Dan, I like the way you work I mean very careful guy. Thanks.

Thank you for this. Most of the how to videos on water heaters make it seem like the nut on the water connection is super easy to remove.

Thanks for showing the real deal on getting that corroded connection loose...

This little video saved my day. Thank you so much.

Very helpful video. Funny, I had exactly the same problems when doing the same job, so this saved me a lot of time (went straight for the hammer to wrench to get the nipple out).

Was cleaning outside my water heater room today and decided to take a peak make sure rodents weren’t getting in anymore lone behold did I fine some dampness and the same issue going on at the top of my water heater, will do this tomorrow hopefully that fitting isn’t ceased on too bad! Great video, demonstration and explination!

Found this very helpful. Had to buy a 3ft piece of pipe to add to my wrench to have enough leverage to loosen the nipple.

Nice video! Lot of good practical direction with reasons.

Great video! Gave me understanding of my tank that appears to have leaks from both intake nipples. I did not realize that those can b removed and replaced. Thanks for the help!

The heat tightens it up too. Just like when you change oil filter, you hand tighten it, same with the bolt under the truck. I liked your video and saved it . I like the hammer to loosen. When the tank was moving I was cringing, lol 😬

Excellent. I got stuck on Christmas Eve with the hardware stores closed. We had a kinked copper ribbed in take and it was leaking two days. I'm part deaf so I didn't hear it as it's a outdoor water heater. Lowered water pressure, a friend attempted to solder the crack but it still leaked but much less. Tomorrow a plumber is coming to replace it but also the top valve unit and will need to break the stucco wall a bit to secure the galvanized pipe. My ceiling pipes are copper but not the drop down pipes. My house has 3 shut off valves we installed to isolate if needed.

Great video, Thank you !

If the fittings don't want to thread together, hold pressure on the fitting while turning it OFF (counter-clockwise). You will feel the fitting move downward a small bit as the threads engage. Then resume turning it clockwise to thread it on.

Thank God you are awesome 🙏 I am a senior citizen and my water tank had corrosion but it was a gas water heater. I watched your video I believe that the flexible line would be much better. Attached to the nipple on top of the water heater. I'm not going to do it myself. I think it's best to hire a plumber 😉.

My hot water supply line started dripping, so I watched this video to learn how to replace it. Funny, the nut that attaches the line to the heater also got stuck I ended up going to Harbor Freight and buying a 24 pipe wrench. It took a few tries, but eventually it broke the nut allowing me to unscrew it. The rest was easy.

Well Dan, my electric hot water tank inlet nipple failed today. Luckily I was doing laundry beside the hot water tank.. Ha, ha….I had to use my largest pipe wrench and sledge hammer to remove the nipple. New nipple and repair was easy peasy thanks to your video. Okay, little elbow grease for repair and water cleanup but a cheap fix. Great video, thank you sir!

Thank you for sharing this video.

Great video. I learned a lot.

Great video Dan & Sarah, I am in the middle & did not know the nipple was "special" so returning the straight thru ones I got & ordering special, glad I watched & did not get the old one off yet, though I could have put a straight through I guess, the 25 yrs ago doubt the had that in water heaters. :) Froggy

Perfect. thanks for the guide. it will help me. I thought it was a long nipple.

Some tips from a DIY'er.. Great video BTW. First, if you relieve the pressure in the tank, remove the stainless hose, leave the tank full until the last step. This way the weight of the full tank of water will help ballast the tank and allow you to break the fitting on top free easier. Second, the reason for your rusting is because metals of dissimilar alchemy will have a galvanizing effect on one another. Thus it creates rust where 2 different metals touch. By using the Teflon tape & paste you create a barrier which will prevent rust in the future. Finally, if your house has a backflow prevention system on the cold water supply, you have to empty the tank using the pressure relief valve lever. However before opening that lever, make SURE your cold water supply is turned off, otherwise you'll make a mess! Happy trails!

THank you, appreciate your help

Very awesome. Thanks. Big help. Good film crew. Peace ✌️

thank you so much, it's clear and honest.

Great video...How to wrestler a water heater 🤪 I actually downloaded it because I have the same issue, very helpsul. Thanks Dan 👍

Well done. Thank you. 😊

Thanks you for the video it is very helpful much appreciated...

This is a very good video. Using the hammer to loosen the nipple is what I would do.

Great video thanks. That would have happened to me trying to get that top piece out. I dunno but maybe I might carry a short piece of pipe to go over the pipe wrench handle just for times when more leverage is needed. Great job though. I replaced our water heater once and used flex hoses like that. The copper pipe side I used compression ring fitting. I hope that is okay.

Thanks Dan.

Thanks for the great tutorial! You mentioned there were 5 failure points and one of mine didn’t pass. I’m dripping from the red gasket between the brass and connector hose- what do I fix?

10 stars from me and them great job well done

Started with wrench after just saying to start with fingers only with no comment about it? Loved the video

The flex lines say no teflon on alot.. also i JUST did this and there was corrosion on the tank itself...new heater time

If you read the stickers that come on the flex lines many say to not use teflon tape. I used tape when I was new just because never had a problem and the stopped once I read the label and never had a problem either.

First off GREAT video! Thank you! Secondly, I'm laughing my butt off over here at the 3:00 mark when you put that wrench on the feedline... I'm like, "What's he got that wrench on? That's a strange looking fitting..." and then I realized your wrench was actually on the REAR feed, but it's perfectly blocked by the front one! LoL Great optical illusion XD

thanks a million buddy.

Thank you!

Good job stay blessed

FYI: If the tank fitting is steel, it will cause a galvanic reaction with the brass/bronze hose end. Happens with dissimilar metals of most types when in contact with each other. Thread tape and/or dope won't act as a barrier against this. If possible, add a short brass/bronze nipple between the tank and the braided hose. Nipple is much cheaper and will be the sacrificial piece, rather than the pricier hose. Swap out the nipple with a new one when corrosion starts. 👍

Not quite 30" clearance in front of the electrical panel :) My water heater looks just like that. I bought and installed a new one but I'm going to attempt to repair the old one an use it somewhere else. I wasn't 100% sure the nipple was actually replaceable. Thanks. I might try to ratchet strap the old one in place somehow or maybe throw a back up wrench on the release valve to keep it from spinning. I'll pre soak it with something like penetrol overnight.

5:20 Ah, the routine complications that occur when DIY. Glad to see I'm not the only one. There's always something. haha

What about the dip tube that connect to the cold water inlet nipple? I don't see a dip tube connect to your new cold water side nipple during your replacement.

thx for the video

Nice work sr 👌👍👍💪

Thanks you help me a lot how fix my own W.H.

what do you do if it leaks at the red washer that is on the flex? replace the flex?

Good video, ty. Did not understand why the red and blue "tabs" or markers were all over the place, thought they would consistently mark hot n cold. Would like some feedback.thx.

Legend has it that he is still trying to get the cold water line hooked up. 😅

I yiy yiy. The moment you see a hack using a wrench as a hammer you should know it's not going to get any better. This vid proves it well.

Noticed a tiny hole by my cold side nipple was spewing out any tips on that

what happens if you don't have those two supply lines on the top and only the one in the middle with corrosion? Is it a bigger problem or is it the same procedure. I don't plan on doing it myself but I want to make sure the tank won't explode.

Great video I just did replace my electric water heater tank but one issue I have no water is going constant on my hot water tap?? Is it airlock or what should I do??

My cold water inlet was leaking so much water that it got into my house thank you so much for this video I'm going to try to repair it myself and save myself $2,000 for a new one

Thanks, I would be afraid of turning it that hard - thinking the tank would crack.

When trying to install hose fitting, I turn the fitting backwards until I hear a click. That means the threads in the two fittings are aligned and ready to engage.

Great video!

Thanks for making this video! I have this exact same issue and need to do this repair. What do you have to do if you have a propane heater? Do I need to shut the gas off?

Great Video!!! Did you thread the tape in the opposite direction? I thought it was necessary, just asking

Thanks for the repair share Dan, Just curious do you shut off the Hot going from the hwh to the house, or is that left open?

this is great for research thank you!

Can you release the pressure by relief valve only or you have to drain the water out of the tank?

Would this be the same process on the hot water side?

Is this a comin problem? I have both of mine look like Thay are leaking and the pressure releaf as well . All seem to b sleeping at thee threads and it appears like it had Ben looking for a really long time .thanks for the vid

Dan i noticed that when your connection from copper supply line it had green corroision on inside of the pipe how come you didn't run wire brush inside of pipe that would help new supply line not corrode later down line just wondering you did great job but i think you maybe you should of cleaned out green corioson on inside of copper to new hose line using the round wire cleaner on outside and inside of copper

gonna do mine soon thanks what is that made outta gavenized?

How can you change the anode rod on this water heater model. Mine needs to be change but it looks like it's under the pressure valve and it's hard to take off

Thank you and camera holder

Thanks for this. What's the difference if the water heater is gas?

Just got a new Rheem electric water tank and the TPV fitting at top of tank is leaking (not the valve, but where it threads into the tank). I pulled it, wrapped teflon tape 6 times, reinstalled. Still leaking (very slowly). So, I removed it again, put 6 wraps of teflon tape and some TFE paste and reinstalled, but not as tight (snug). I'll wait to see... it takes a couple hours to see any water. Any other ideas if this doesn't work?

shouldnt there be a dip tube attached to this fitting ?