Our house has a "Craftmaster" gas water heater (c 2000), which acts like it has a broken dip tube - the hot water is lukewarm, even though the gas does come on from time to time.
I removed the inlet pipe. I can see (and feel) what seems to be a black plastic hose extending down from the inlet nipple. It doesn't feel at all free.
- Do I need to remove the (galvanized) inlet nipple to get the tube out?
- Inside the tube, there was a plastic strip, about 4" long, with two magnets in it. It was a snug fit, but it pulled out without excessive force. What is this?
TIA, George