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| No hot water | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13th, 2008 11:53 pm |
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1st Post |
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John Broughton Member 
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We had a new Rheem gas hot water tank installed less than 12 months ago. Today it suddenly stopped taking in cold water. The tank is now empty. I have loosened the lower drain plug and no water comes out from there and no water flows from any faucet. The pilot light is on. There is a cold water shut off valve just above the unit which is turned on. Between this shut off valve and the water heater is a small water connection to feed the humidifier. If I switch the humidifier on water flows freely to the humidifier unit so the cold water supply is available. Any ideas why the tank should not accept cold water ?
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14th, 2008 02:45 am |
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2nd Post |
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eleent Member
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Hello: Turn the gas control to pilot right away! You don't want it firing when the tank is not full of water. OK, now turn off water to the heater and check it with the humidifier. Undo the pipe (flex-line?) from the heater. Remove the pipe nipple/heat trap and check it for the clog. Let us know  Yours, Larry
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14th, 2008 01:30 pm |
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3rd Post |
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John Broughton Member
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Hello Larry: Thanks for your response. The copper pipe goes straight to the water heater, there is no flexi tube. I will cut the pipe and put in a new cold water shut off and a new screw connector to the water heater and a flexi tube. What is inside the unit that makes it call for water ? Or is it gravity ?
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14th, 2008 11:48 pm |
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4th Post |
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elenano Member
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It's not gravity, it's pressure. But pressure may not work, either, if there is a blockage. We're thinking maybe it's a heat-trap nipple. Those are supposed to prevent hot water from rising out of the tank into the plumbing and radiating heat when the tank is idle, but sometimes they prevent water from going anywhere anytime. Randy Schuyler
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15th, 2008 03:19 pm |
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5th Post |
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John Broughton Member
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Hello Randy: It looks like you were correct. The heat trap nipple was jammed. I could not remove it from the dip tube so finished up removing and replacing the dip tube. The new dip tube, purchased from Home Depot, did not come with a heat trap nipple and Home Depot do not carry them. Is the heat trap nipple a 'required' item. I plan to put it all back togeter today and contact a plumbing shop next week to see where I can get a replacement heat trap nipple from. Thanks for your help John
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15th, 2008 08:46 pm |
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6th Post |
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Ej Member 
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You should contact Rheem. Most likely you are still under parts warranty 2-6 yrs. They will replace the part at no cost to you. If you are within the 12 month warranty then the labor to you is free too. Last edited on Sun Jun 15th, 2008 08:48 pm by Ej |
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15th, 2008 09:04 pm |
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7th Post |
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John Broughton Member
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Well, I am up and running without the cold water heat trap nipple. I will contact Rheem this week to see if I can get a heat trap nipple as a spare part. Is it ok to run the water heater without this nipple ? Thanks, John
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15th, 2008 10:38 pm |
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8th Post |
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Ej Member
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The heat trap keeps heat from rising when the water heater is not being used. You can also make a heat traps out of copper flex lines. Use a longer flex than you need and make a big gooseneck in it, like a question mark. Heat will rise up the flex to the top of the gooseneck and stop.
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