mitchell.shane•5d agoProlific Poster

Overheard a plumber say 'don't use flex lines on a water heater' and realized I messed up mine 3 years ago

I used braided stainless flex lines on my water heater install in Phoenix back in 2022 because it seemed easier, but now I'm wondering if I should redo it all before it leaks, has anyone else ignored that advice and regretted it?

2 comments

2 Comments

lilyt905d ago

Oh man, I used braided flex lines on my last water heater too and it was fine for years until I noticed a tiny rust spot forming near the crimp. Your mileage may vary but I'd swap them out just for peace of mind, especially in that Phoenix heat.

robinl905d ago

I read that the rubber inside those braided lines can dry rot from the inside out, even if the stainless braid looks fine from the outside. A guy I know who does service work for a property management company told me he's pulled out a bunch of them that looked perfect but cracked open the moment he put a wrench on them. You're right about the Phoenix heat, that's a killer for any rubber component even if it says it's rated for high temps. That tiny rust spot near the crimp is exactly where water starts to weep out and eat the metal from the inside. I'd swap them out too, it's not worth waking up to a flooded garage.