Dielectric nipples vs. heat traps.

Apr 27, 2007 1 Replies

Dielectric nipples vs. heat traps.



A pair of plain old dielectric nipples for the electric water heater are 4 dollars. With heat traps, which I gather are just little rubber flaps inside, they are 8 dollars.



Why do they still sell the simpler ones, just because people want to save 4 dollars?


I don't remember what I used 13 years ago. If you recommend the ones without the heat traps, and that's what I used 13 years ago, can I just use the same ones that are in there now?


Thanks a lot. This is such a little thing, I hardly believe it is so confusing to me.



BTW, I'm replacing the WH where water sprayed around the escutcheon of the drain valve. I couldn't easily tell where the water was coming from, and it's a 12 year water heater that is between 11 and 15 years old, and I decided to replace it. I've been taking showering at a neighbor's and taking sponge baths.


the plain dieelectric connections are for isolating dis similiar metal water lines.

like connect copper to galvanized directly, you will get a leak sooner or later, the metal erodes away.

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