Plastic Water Heater Fittings

[Jim A]

I am looking for plastic 90 degree 1/2 inch threaded male to 1/2 inch threaded female to connect my new hot water heater. The old ones looked damaged so I throw them away. Now I can't find them anywhere. Any ideas where to get them?Thanks Jim

 

[nick maggio]

Brass or Metal

I have used plastic on metal pipes for my under ground sprinklers so why not use metal on plastic. nick

 

[Mike DiMario]

Mc McMaster Carr

Jim,Try Mc Master Carr. Go to page 119.good luck,MIke D

 

[Gord May]

Take care mixing materials

The Coefficient of Expansion differs between metals and plastics. Most metals expand more (at the same temperature) than most plastics. Hence:If you thread a male plastic fitting/nipple into a female metal hub, the connection may leak when hot (Hub expands more than insert).If you thread a metal male fitting/nipple into a plastic female hub, the hub could break when hot (Insert expands more than hub).You also want to ensure that any metal fittings are galvanically compatible /w each other (or corrosion could result).HTHGord

 

[Steve Dion]

Aren't those street ell's

Jim:I think they are called street ell's. You should also be able to use copper for this mission. Take a look in the plumbing section at your local hardware store or a Lowes/Home Depot for some. Copper is commonly used on house hold tanks. They may also carry some of this plastic stuff at these stores too. They do have replacement plastic for the stuff that they used in homes several years ago.The other place to look is at the RV store. Many interchangeable parts there too.

 

[O_Salt]

Little trick

Gord is right bout mixing plastic and metal fittings, they will leak. Here is a little trick if you have to mix a plastic female fitting with a metal male fitting.Thread the male fitting into the plastic fitting hand tight. Take a hose clamp and place it around the treaded area of the plastic fitting. Tighten the hose clamp until it is snug, do not over tighten. Now tighten the male fitting into the reinforced plastic fitting. This should help keep the expansion of the plastic fitting under control to keep it from leaking.