[Myvalk99]

Ok, I just installed a new water heater, and it’s my first time using this new lead less solder....HATE IT !!! The last time I’ve had to solder, I used 60/40 or 50/50. This stuff is so hard to use.
Anyway, to my question, lol, is it possible to use so much heat that you melt that plastic sleeve in the pipes? I’m asking because the hot water is `low pressure in all of the fixtures. And yes, I did clean out all of the aerators in all the fixtures. And the tub spout which doesn’t have one is dribbling. Could I have melted the plastic in to a blockage?

 

[dj3]

What plastic are you specifically talking about?
What exactly were you soldering - a fitting, a shut off valve?
Do you have pictures?

 

[Bud9051]

Are you talking about the plastic dip tube. Yes it can be damaged by heat. (corrections welcome). The top of my water heater has a threaded fitting which I soldered to the connecting pipe before I attached it to the heater.

Bud

And yes I also hate the lead free solder

 

[Myvalk99]

What plastic are you specifically talking about?
What exactly were you soldering - a fitting, a shut off valve?
Do you have pictures?

Inside The three-quarter inch nipples sticking out of the top of the water heater are white plastic inserts. I do not know what purpose they serve, but I know they have been in there for years.

 

[Old Thomas]

You were not supposed to solder at the water heater. You should solder the fitting to a piece of pipe, cool it down then thread it on. Every water heater I ever installed had a sticker saying that by the fittings.

 

[iamrfixit]

About every modern water heater has had heat traps installed. They look like galvanized nipples but have plastic parts inside them. Designed to keep the hot water from leeching up into the water lines where the heat can dissipate quickly and reduce efficiency.

You definitely never want to solder directly to them as mentioned, solder the fitting onto the pipe, then screw the fitting and pipe on the water heater. Then you make the next solder connection a safe distance away from the water heater. The heat from soldering likely ruined the traps and you'll need to replace them.

While you have the cold inlet removed you best check the dip tube, it's also plastic. The dip tube delivers the cold water to the bottom of the tank rather than allowing it to mix with the hot water at the top.

 

[jmon]

Inside The three-quarter inch nipples sticking out of the top of the water heater are white plastic inserts. I do not know what purpose they serve, but I know they have been in there for years.

They are called dialectic nipples, they have a plastic shield inside to prevent corrosion from dissimilar metals. Some may or may not have heat traps in them, i get the ones with no heat traps, just my personal preference. Pick up 2 new ones and follow others suggestions when soldering.


I also agree while you have the cold water nipple out check the dip tube for possible heat damage. Replace that as well if melted.

 

[Myvalk99]

Inside The three-quarter inch nipples sticking out of the top of the water heater are white plastic inserts. I do not know what purpose they serve, but I know they have been in there for years.

They are called dialectic nipples, they have a plastic shield inside to prevent corrosion from dissimilar metals. Some may or may not have heat traps in them, i get the ones with no heat traps, just my personal preference. Pick up 2 new ones and follow others suggestions when soldering.


I also agree while you have the cold water nipple out check the dip tube for possible heat damage. Replace that as well if melted.

So I can replace these ?

 

[Myvalk99]

And this

 

[jmon]

So I can replace these ?

Yes. But do any pipe/fitting soldering away from nipples first, then screw them on the dielectic nipples or use the push on connect sharkbytes.


Also remember to check plastic dip tube for heat damage as well.

 

[Myvalk99]

Yeah, I screwed on the copper by female adapter first then I soldered everything from there on so I’m guessing that the heat transferred.

 

[Myvalk99]

Latest update .....
Yes. I soldered too close to the nipples. Melted the plastic inside the nipples. Fortunately the cold water dip tube was not harmed. Lesson learned. One fitting away is not far enough away.
Enjoy the photos. Cold water first

 

[Myvalk99]

Hot water.