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Author Topic: Side arm  (Read 3405 times)

Revx1000

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Side arm
« on: November 07, 2018, 10:06:50 PM »

For those that are running the side arm on the hot water tank, do you find that it shortens the life of the heater ?  Mine is just over 5 years old and tonight the top let go. My well water has no iron run a softener and a charcoal filter. My boiler cuts out at 180 wondering if thats maybe why it had a short life . Any suggestions
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RSI

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2018, 10:17:56 PM »

You mean it blew out? If so, was the T&P valve moved and can you post a picture of it?
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Revx1000

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2018, 10:49:41 PM »

If you mean the relief valve  no I tapped into the bottom drain and tee of the outlet at the top of the tank . Removed the back flow valve on the out let line . Looks like the outlet line at or near the top of the tank is what split  I have to remove my charcoal filter and softener to get in there, still mopping up
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Walleye

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2018, 02:04:15 PM »

Mines been in use with a side arm for going on 7 years. The tank was probably 18 years old before that.
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mlappin

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2018, 05:59:21 PM »

15 years on a sidearm before switching to a plate. Same water heater yet.
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hoardac

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2018, 06:00:46 PM »

Been a sidearm for 10 years on this tank and the tank was old when I bought the house.
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Pointblank

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2018, 06:26:17 PM »

16 years now on my side arm with no problems.
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schoppy

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2018, 10:12:44 PM »

Is your water heater isolated with dielectric unions for both water lines? I have seen leaks caused by corrosion from electrolysis but it doesn't happen a lot.
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heat550

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2018, 04:07:10 AM »

Water heater is 42 years old . Side arm has been on it for 21 years.
There is other issues going on with yours . Have your water checked also .

Heat550
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Revx1000

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2018, 08:19:06 PM »

The pipe on the hot side is what let go. I had a water test done about 20 months ago then I installed a water soften ,we were getting a little bit of white stains on the taps. Now I think the reason for the failure is when I put the sidearm on I had to remove the back flow valve in the outlet line .doing this I removed most of the  plastic liner on the top end of the tube,it is there where the line let go . I had the side arm returning to the very top of the tank ,I have now moved it to the pressure relief valve .  I also contacted the outfit that does the plumbing at my work they said that on these new tanks if the plastic liner gets compromised the tank will fail in a few years . One more thing not sure it had anything to do with this ,but when I installed the soften the tube had a Crack in it. It filled the heater and all the lines full of the median. I flushed the system but still had some of that crap floating around ,had to install a spin down filter on the hot side of the tank to catch it.

Also reading on line that some are saying that a softener also shortens life of the heater not sure on that one
All my plumbing to and from the heater is pex thinking that should not be electrolysis 
Guess the saving on the hydro bill for 5 seasons is now put back into a 400 heater  lol

Vernn
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mlappin

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2018, 09:24:28 PM »

Have had a water softener in the house for as long as I can remember and I grew up here. Current water heater is at least 20 years old.
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E Yoder

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Re: Side arm
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2018, 04:10:01 AM »

My water heater was a used one we put in 'temporary' 13 years ago... still running fine.
My brother's new one leaked in 10 years.
Who knows :)
« Last Edit: November 15, 2018, 04:45:15 AM by E Yoder »
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