The Dip Tube, And How It Affects Water Temperature

05/09/2016

Have you ever turned on a hot water tap and had spurts of cold water interspersed with it? Do you have a tank water heater? If so, you may have a problem with your dip tube. The dip tube is a simple part of your water heater, but one that it cannot properly operate without. Let’s take a look at what the dip tube is, and how problems with it can affect your water heater.

The Dip Tube

The dip tube is a plastic pipe that extends from your home’s water line into the water heater tank, letting out near the bottom where it’s closest to the burner assembly. All fresh water flowing into the system flows through the dip tube. This allows the cold water entering the tank to warm up quickly, and avoid prematurely leaving the tank through the pipe at the top. As the water warms up, it rises to the top of the tank where it leaves the system. This process keeps the water heater from running out of hot water as quickly, allowing it to cope with more demand.

Dip Tube Problems

It’s pretty rare for the dip tube to become damaged by external force, but that doesn’t mean that it’s invincible. Eventually, the plastic that makes up the tube will simply degrade to the point where it starts to crack. Cold water will flow through the crack in the dip tube, mixing with the hot water flowing out of the tank. That’s why you may notice your hot water tap alternating between hot and cold suddenly. The tube will likely need to be replaced to restore the system to proper function.

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