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Reversed pipes on water heater, hints from a home inspectorReversed pipes on water heater (inlet plumbed to outlet side): sometimes "plumbers" will inadvertently reverse the water pipes when installing a water heater. This will cause the water heater to operate inefficiently. The cold water entering the tank is not entering through the dip tube which would normally bring the cold water down to the bottom of the tank. Instead, the cold water is entering the tank at the top where it mixes with hot water and cools it. Sometimes the property owner will have increased the temperature setting to compensate for the lower temperature of the water. This will increase fuel consumption and decrease the life of the water heater. Clearly, a reversed installation should be corrected. Reverse the lines. If flex water lines are not installed, they should be. If a cold water shut-off valve is not installed, one should be. All parts and supplies that you will need are available at building supply outlets. Contact a plumbing contractor for further assistance if you cannot do this task alone.
File last updated March 11, 2010 * Copyright © 2010 All rights reserved by: Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm 56 Woodland Drive, West Paterson NJ 07424 973-812-5100 providing New Jersey Certified Home Inspections in NJ, by New Jersey Licensed home inspectors. Inspector of record Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector License GI 0121.
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