Water Heater Outlet Nipple - Unsure if leaking

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EggMcMuffin

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I'm unsure if there's a drip leak at the water heater outlet to nipple connection of my Bradford White gas water heater. I used 3.5 wraps of Megatape on the threads with a light to moderate amount of Rectorseal 5. It's impossible to see without removing the top cover.

I just replaced the anode rod on my water heater. I initially had a bad leak due to a deformed washer at the outlet flex line. After replacing the washer, everything was dry with no other visible signs of a leak. Knowing that everything was fairly wet underneath the top cover, I figured I'd wait a while to check the heater to nipple connection for leaks.

A day later using some thick paper from election flyers, I cut some strips and jammed them down to see if it was wet at the connection. It still pretty damp. I tightened the nipple a little further to the point where I'd have to strain to get it any tighter using 16 inch pliers.

Checking again twelve hours later, it hasn't improved much if at all.

How long would a quart of water underneath the cover and insulation take to dry? I know there's little to no airflow. But I figured the heat from the tank would speed up the process.

Edit: I just realized that there's a water heater forum. Mods, please move this thread.
 

EggMcMuffin

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I would give it more time before I worried. It sounds like you did well with the pipe dope and tape.
How long would you guys wait before reinstalling the nipple? A week? A month? It's been three days without any improvement when probing the connection area with pieces of paper.

On the other hand, it hasn't gotten any wetter. I'm about to try an experiment with a wet sponge in a covered container left slightly cracked open in the sun.

This is pretty frustrating. I wonder how much of an improvement in efficiency Bradford White gets by leaving the cutouts so narrow and insulation so tight against the nipple. It seems like other some other manufacturers make it much easier to visually inspect the connections for leaks.
 
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