How To Save Yourself from Cold Showers by Knowing More About Dip Tubes

• Standard Dip Tubes. A dip tube is a long, straight plastic pipe attached to the cold water inlet, above the water heater, and into the tank of the water heater itself. Its purpose is to ensure that new cold water enters the tank at the bottom. Hot water naturally rises above cold water, so the hot water will be used first since the hot water outlet is at the top of the tank. If the dip tube breaks, cold water will enter at the top of the tank and will be immediately sent through the hot water outlet. This results in a cold shower or bath.

  Commercial water heaters have the cold water inlet connected near the bottom of the tank, making the dip tube unnecessary. Mobile homes as well as some foreign countries often have the cold water inlet attached to the bottom of the tank as well.

• Curved Dip Tubes. The only difference between a straight dip tube and a curved dip tube is that on a curved dip tube the bottom end of the tube is near the bottom of the water heater tank. The cold water entering the tank from a curved dip tube will swirl around the bottom of the tank, hitting the area directly underneath the dip tube straight on. The purpose for this is to help keep sediment build-up under control. New sediment cannot form around the bottom of the tank because of the water's swirling motion. With a straight dip tube, only the area directly beneath the dib tube will be free of sediment.

  Also, with a curved dip tube it is easier to flush and drain sediment from the bottom of the tank. To do this, simply open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and let the water run for at least five minutes; make sure the cold water line is open. This will remove the majority of the sediment in the tank.

Installation

1. To install a curved dip tube, first unscrew the cold water outlet line.
2. Insert the handle of a plastic set of pliers in the inlet of the tank.
3. Twist and pull up at the same time to expose the dip tube.
4. If the tube is difficult to remove, scrape off any rust on the tube or in the inlet.
5. Once the dip tube is completely removed, take the new curved dip tube and mark the direction the curved end of the tube is pointing on the nipple (the small plastic pipe connecting your new dip tube to the cold water outlet).
6. Wrap the threads of the nipple with Teflon tape eight times. Then, insert the curved dip tube making sure the direction the curved bottom of the tube is pointing in will cause the desired swirling motion of water at the bottom of the tank (the curve should be running parallel to the curve of the tank).

   NOTE: When buying a new water heater, ask if the tank uses a curved dip tube. Many models will come with this already installed. If it does not, consider buying one that does.

Damaged Dip Tubes. If your dip tube breaks, cold water will enter at the top of the water heater tank and immediately leave through the hot water outlet also at the top of the tank. The result is a cold shower or bath. If your dip tube breaks, you or a plumber will need to install a new one. Try using a curved dip tube.

Also, if you have a sediment problem, a curved dip tube should be the first thing to ask a plumber about.