How do u pipe water heaters flex or hard pipe? - Plumbing Zone

arkyplumber · 01-26-2009, 11:08 PM

I personally cant stand flex lines. Seen to many with worn out washers. I have replaced many with the wrong kind of nipples in them too. I always hook up mine with hard pipe and d-electric unions. Takes more time for sure, but much better and longer lasting job. I will admit I have been to a few jobs were flex lines were the way to go. Them in and out kind of jobs

uaplumber · 01-26-2009, 11:09 PM

Hard pipe. Every time.

Ron · 01-26-2009, 11:10 PM

We use flex lines all the time, don't seem to have a problem with them myself.

pzmember · 01-26-2009, 11:31 PM

hard pipe w/ dielectric unions, and ballvalves on hot and cold. the flex lines seem to work just fine. and are required in seismic regions ive been told. makes sense. pipe for your region.

Tankless · 01-26-2009, 11:42 PM

Flex lines...mostly Brasscraft or Bobs....sometimes SS.
However I hate....with a passion Dielectric unions. I refuse to install them. If I need a union it's always brass. Tripple the price, I know but they don't rust shut in 5 years either.

I'mYourTourGuide · 01-27-2009, 12:38 AM

Ball valves on hot and cold? Hopefully the ball valve behind the bladder tank, lol.

I always just installed a gate valve on the cold side coming in, behind the bladder tank.

But anywho, hard pipe all the way!

pzmember · 01-27-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'mYourTourGuide

Ball valves on hot and cold? Hopefully the ball valve behind the bladder tank, lol.

I always just installed a gate valve on the cold side coming in, behind the bladder tank.

But anywho, hard pipe all the way!

the twin ballvalves make for a quick replacement of the wh the next time no draindown time on the hot. yeah it might be 10 years later, but the next plumber will thank me. or i may thank myself.

WestCoastPlumber · 01-27-2009, 01:16 AM

flex all mine, unless it is a 75 gallon and up. Flex lets it move when the shaker comes......

When I hard pipe, I use all brass to transition to `copper, I have seen so many dielectrics fail, rust and leak. Brass unions and nipples, or brass to copper unions, or bell reducers and nipples, then copper fip's.

you get the point. good to have flex out here.

pzmember · 01-27-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoastPlumber

flex all mine, unless it is a 75 gallon and up. Flex lets it move when the shaker comes......

When I hard pipe, I use all brass to transition to `copper, I have seen so many dielectrics fail, rust and leak. Brass unions and nipples, or brass to copper unions, or bell reducers and nipples, then copper fip's.

you get the point. good to have flex out here.

ive seen dielectrics close shut w/ almost 0 pressure, brought it to the attention of the plbg commission yet its still code here to have them. climate controlled engineers and lawyers. but then again i might suck at thier job too.

gabby · 01-27-2009, 04:29 PM

I hard pipe but have considered using flex when possible. You could not make me use a gate valve,ball valve only. The gate valve is the worst valve on the market. Two ball valves is over kill you still have to remove the air from the new tank.

01-26-2009, 11:08 PM	#1
arkyplumber Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 40 My Photos	How do u pipe water heaters flex or hard pipe? I personally cant stand flex lines. Seen to many with worn out washers. I have replaced many with the wrong kind of nipples in them too. I always hook up mine with hard pipe and d-electric unions. Takes more time for sure, but much better and longer lasting job. I will admit I have been to a few jobs were flex lines were the way to go. Them in and out kind of jobs

01-26-2009, 11:09 PM	#2
uaplumber Plumbing Contractor Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Westlock, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,436 My Photos	Hard pipe. Every time. __________________ B&B Plumbing Inc http://www.westlockplumber.com Plumbing and Heating in Westlock, Alberta

01-26-2009, 11:10 PM	#3
Ron Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,635 My Photos	We use flex lines all the time, don't seem to have a problem with them myself. __________________ Stephen Hawking: If the government is covering up knowledge of Aliens, they are doing a better job of it then they do at anything else.

01-27-2009, 12:38 AM	#6
I'mYourTourGuide Chase Plumber Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chase Wall Posts: 287 My Photos	Ball valves on hot and cold? Hopefully the ball valve behind the bladder tank, lol. I always just installed a gate valve on the cold side coming in, behind the bladder tank. But anywho, hard pipe all the way! __________________ Your #2 is my #1!

01-27-2009, 01:16 AM	#8
WestCoastPlumber Plumber Manhattan Beach Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles (South Bay) Posts: 828 My Photos	flex all mine, unless it is a 75 gallon and up. Flex lets it move when the shaker comes...... When I hard pipe, I use all brass to transition to `copper, I have seen so many dielectrics fail, rust and leak. Brass unions and nipples, or brass to copper unions, or bell reducers and nipples, then copper fip's. you get the point. good to have flex out here. __________________ Robert Plumber Manhattan Beach, Plumber Hermosa Beach,Plumber Marina Del Rey, Plumber Redondo Beach, Tankless water heaters Los Angeles Tankless repair Los Angeles

01-26-2009, 11:31 PM	#4
pzmember Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 383 My Photos	hard pipe w/ dielectric unions, and ballvalves on hot and cold. the flex lines seem to work just fine. and are required in seismic regions ive been told. makes sense. pipe for your region.

01-26-2009, 11:42 PM	#5
Tankless Always Something Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Santa Barbara / Ventura Posts: 1,347 My Photos	Flex lines...mostly Brasscraft or Bobs....sometimes SS. However I hate....with a passion Dielectric unions. I refuse to install them. If I need a union it's always brass. Tripple the price, I know but they don't rust shut in 5 years either.

01-27-2009, 04:29 PM	#10
gabby gabby Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: midlothian VA Posts: 13 My Photos	I hard pipe but have considered using flex when possible. You could not make me use a gate valve,ball valve only. The gate valve is the worst valve on the market. Two ball valves is over kill you still have to remove the air from the new tank.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pipe shooter	ILPlumber	Plumbing Tools and Equipment	11	01-18-2009 02:37 AM
Bathroom Sink/ Drain Pipe (Drain Pipe broke leading to ground)	bli182nk	General Plumbing Discussion	4	01-12-2009 10:36 AM
Venting and flue pipe sizing for gas water heaters	Bruce Kramer	Residential Plumbing	1	01-07-2009 08:09 PM
black water pipe	kellybhutchings	Plumbing Material and Products	23	12-23-2008 11:17 PM
Pipe Fittings as Art	Killertoiletspider	Off Topic	8	10-23-2008 12:14 AM