Ya know another thing is not all tanks are plumbed the same either. My tank the lines go into the sides, not the top. Hot line comes out the side at the top, cold line goes in the side at the bottom. Close to the drain valve but I think a bit higher.
Most of the scrap tanks I drag home, the cold goes in the top and a plastic tube inside pokes down towards the bottom, hot just comes out the top.
"Do they start out as little 4" long pieces of pipe? These would be the heat traps."
If they are the heat traps? I do get scrap tanks with just plain 3-6" galvanized pipes at the top, or other fittings. Not knowing what the heat traps look like, would I even see a difference there? Maybe I have some out in the yard and never even knew it? I just toss them untill I need something then go look for it.
Grounding rod? I just clamp a zip cord to the PVC pipe, ain't that good enough
Just a joke of course, and yes I do have a ground rod.
"dielectric union" off hand not sure what that is, but I am about half asleep, long night.
I normally have my pipes insulated best I can. I like cold water on a hot summer day, don't like condensation either (very humid here at times), and might as well try to hold heat in the hot lines also. Awhile back I was working on stuff and removed insulation so I do have exposed pipes now that normally are not exposed.
I do have alot of the old grey plastic lines here also. I like those, they can freeze solid and never break, unlike PVC, copper, or steel. Having extra tubing now I will probably be replacing the other stuff with more tubing soon as I can get around to it. Also will need less, moving the tank.
Got a good deal on new rolls at a garage sale awhile back, several sizes.
Don't tell me this stuff contains lead or something and that's why it's not sold any longer .
Anyway I won't be doing any long term studies I geuss. Been thinking about it for along time. Pretty stupid to have the water tank on one end of the house when bathroom and kitchen are in the middle of the house. Since it's electric not a big deal to move it. I'd like to get an on demand tank to install, not sure what they cost though.
So, I can save a about 20' (maybe more) of each pipe moving the tank closer to the facets and that should also save on hot water losses. Less pipe to heat when using hot water, less standing water to lose heat when you turn it back off. That should add up to some savings also. Bathtub is used about 3-4 times a day not that big a deal, sinks are always on and off all day long. Everything will be closer.
Why are tanks often installed far from the facets? Any reason for it?
When I move the tank all the lines will go down anyway to get under the floor or straight through the wall, no over head lines any longer either. Loop won't be needed with no upward lines. Still may try the traps if I find some though, geuss it can't hurt anything.