Mike Lamb Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 The nipple on this 6 year old cold water inlet is badly rusted but I am more concerned about the female tank inlet fitting. If this is also badly corroded can it be replaced? Is it removable? Click to Enlarge 32.02?KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Yeah, Purchase an identical union. Replace the rusted nipple and use half of the new union to mate to the other half of the old union that is soldered to the pipe and you're done. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Seems to me that Mike L was referring to the fitting on the tank itself. It looks badly corroded. I haven't dissected a water heater lately but my guess is that female fitting is welded to the tank. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted January 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Seems to me that Mike L was referring to the fitting on the tank itself. It looks badly corroded. I haven't dissected a water heater lately but my guess is that female fitting is welded to the tank. Marc Right. The last water heater I installed had flush female fittings at the top of the tank. I don't know if these can be removed with an easy-out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 You might get lucky. How important is it to gamble? That is the location where my old heater failed, and it didn't look bad at all. When it failed, it went big time. Pop, geyser in the basement. Thankfully I was home at the time. You're taking large chances if you don't change out the heater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted January 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 You might get lucky. How important is it to gamble? That is the location where my old heater failed, and it didn't look bad at all. When it failed, it went big time. Pop, geyser in the basement. Thankfully I was home at the time. You're taking large chances if you don't change out the heater. That's why I was wondering about how the manufacturer installs the inlet. Is it fixable or do you replace a 6 yr old 75 gallon tank? I'll see if I can talk to General on Mon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Don't know about ChiTown. Around here a 50 - 60 gallon tank will last about 10 to 15 years if it's properly maintained and a 75 to 80 gallon tank can last nearly twice as long because it goes through fewer heat/cold exchanges. In the abscence of anything indicating a serious problem with the tank, I'd replace that nipple and half of that union for less than $30 in parts before I'd replace a 6-y.o. water heater. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 It used to be that way in Chicago too. I still occasionally see 45 year old water tanks. Tanks ain't what they used to be. The "mfg." is somewhere in Asia or Singapore, and who knows how the hell they were assembled. I agree with you on principle, but not on practical experience. Water heaters are just another disposable commodity nowadays, mfg. to pretty lousy standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Depends on brand, There are a crap load of them made in the US in Ashland, TN by AO Smith under the AO Smith name of one of it's subsidiary names. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I thought they were assembled in Ashland, not mfg. The tanks come from Asia, or so I was informed a few years back. Maybe it's changed back, a hopeful sign for American mfg. Does anyone else remember when there was that communique about no tanks being made in America anymore? The last was State, and they went offshore a few years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Assembled or packaged here, gives the impression it's 'merican. With precious few exceptions, we really only make hamburgers here any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Assembled or packaged here, gives the impression it's 'merican. With precious few exceptions, we really only make hamburgers here any more. Well, We are the 35th province after all. OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 American manufactures water heater tanks in Johnston City, TN. First paragraph Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 AO Smith made the tanks in Ashland City, up till May 2010. Then we had a little flood in Mid-TN that put about 30' of water over the AO Smith property. I think they opened the plant back up this past summer but prior to that they were made elsewhere. Our ASHI Chapter did a tour of the AO Smith plant back in 2007, pretty neat plant and they made the tanks on site back then. I think States was also an AO Smith product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericwlewis Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Dielectric unions are crap but I haven't seen a failed one of these; http://www.pexsupply.com/Matco-Norca-DN ... MgodQVIAog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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