Water heater supply line leak

dariusld

Installed a new water heater. The hot and cold lines had corrosion. I tried to clean them up and hoped for the best. They both have a slow leak. I want to replace them now, but it's not going to be as easy as it should be. The lines are copper flex lines with connectors on the water heater side only. The other side is soldered. Finding an exact replacement might be difficult. What would be the best method of repairing this? I have 3 ideas in my head.

TheEplumber

Replacement lines should be readily available. they're called nut x sweat flex lines and they should be replaced when installing a new heater. Cut the h & c lines behind the existing flex and solder on new ones or get the braided flex lines that have sharkbite fittings instead of sweat.

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dariusld

Thank you for your response. With your help, I found this
My only concern with the Sharkbite is the small gap between the line and the heater. As it is, the flex line makes a sharp turn.

joecaption

Post a picture of what you have now. Someone may not have installed a Dilectric nipple on top of the heater, without it there's going to be corrision.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006JLVEO/...SIN=B0006JLVEO

TheEplumber

These are available in different lengths. You should be able to get some that will fit. One end screws directly to the heater, the other solders to your pipe, but you prolly know that...

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raylo32

Or cut the old flex coper lines off the H and C lines and sweat on 3/4" male adapters. Then you can get new copper flex ines or the braided steel covered flex lines with 3/4" female threaded connectors on both ends... and replace them again in the future when necessary without having to do any more soldering.