Hot water heater - mystery part?

[hhcibtpaun]

Hey Folks,

So, I am finishing up my PEX project and pulled off the inlet and outlet pipes on my hot water heater and found a "mystery" part. I unthreaded the pipes and found some plastic pieces - one came off and one stayed in the HWH. Can someone tell me what this is, and do I need it? I have a feeling if I try to pull this out of the pipe it may break....so can I get a new one?

TIA...Mike

 

[Reach4]

A heat traps that came with the nipple on the WH.

The purpose is to keep water from circulating and giving up heat to the piping, especially the input pipe. Before there were these kinds of heat trap, there were types that used pipe. Your search term would be this:

"heat trap" "water heater"

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hhcibtpaun]

A heat traps that came with the nipple on the WH.

The purpose is to keep water from circulating and giving up heat to the piping, especially the input pipe. Before there were these kinds of heat trap, there were types that used pipe. Your search term would be this:

"heat trap" "water heater"

Thanks. So, I did that search and I found just the plastic inserts and actual nipples that have them. Would I want to replace the nipples, or just the plastic pieces?

Thanks...Mike

 

[WorthFlorida]

The entire heat trap.

 

[hhcibtpaun]

The entire heat trap.

thanks. I was able to pull the piece out of the part I took off and stick it back in the pipe, so I assume that should be sufficient?

Thanks...Mike