Heat pump water heater nipple.

brandonf

Hey folks.

Does anyone know if this hot side of a Geospring water heater tube can be replaced?

Thanks in advance.

ethicalpaul

I'm happy to see that after 12 years this heat pump water heater is still going with the failure point being a nipple. So now according to the logic that I always see used against them, we now know that heat pump water heaters outlast every gas water heater.

(and I wish you good luck in getting the nipple fixed!)

hot_rod

Looks like part of the dip tube/ anode rod nipple has broken off in the tank?

That looks like a copper to female adapter screwed on the top 1/2 of the nipple, them rest may be in the tank?

Not such an easy place to work, unfortunately. It may involve a small chisel and a 3/4 pipe tap.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, Is that the hot or cold side? Also, there is a plastic cap down on top of the tank. Is that covering an anode? Replacing the pipe may not bo so difficult as long as you get the replacement beforehand. Also, the copper to steel connection should be redone with something that doesn't mix metals. I'd probably use a stainless flex connector that has true dielectrics built in to the ends.

Yours, Larry

hot_rod

That looks like the remnants of a dielectric nipple. Possibly a leak on the adapter has corroded it away. Maybe with some electrolysis involved?

There are some dip tubes that combine the anode rod into one piece, or have a vacuum breaker hole on top of the dip tube

Larry Weingarten

I see now, (looking at this on my computer instead of phone 😏) That's blue plastic visible where the steel has left. It's likely caused by the copper to steel connection. Getting the nipple out will be harder because i has to be grabbed low down… maybe a basin wrench with a crescent on the square shaft?

Yours, Larry

mattmia2

or one of those basin wrenches with the socket drive hole.