Shut down the water supply first before working with the connection.
Water heater to pex.
Water flows silently through pex eliminating the water hammer.
When you want to connect pex to a water heater but need an 18 inch separation then use this.
Away from the water heater and 6 in.
One at the manifold and another at the fixture end.
Step 2 connect the metal connector to the water heater.
According to the irc you must have 18 inch clearance from the top of the water heater to your pex connection.
Step 1 shut down the water supply.
Sharkbite u3068flex18bvlf flexible water heater connector with ball valve 1 2 inch x 3 4 inch fip push to connect copper pex cpvc braided stainless steel 4 7 out of 5 stars 56 27 25 27.
Pex does not corrode which can happen with both copper and steel pipes leading to leaks and contamination of the water supply.
But i am thinking since this is a high efficiency with an induced fan that it not necessary.
Step 4 prepare the pex tubing.
Pex is plastic and plastic melts.
And stay well clear of furnace flues wood burning stove pipes and any other item that gets hot.
This system uses more tubing but is fast and only requires two connections.
With the home run system you install a manifold in the utility room or some area that s close to the main water line and water heater and run a separate pex tube to each fixture as shown above.
So keep your pex pipes away from hot stuff.
It is so much easier than using copper to join a water heater to pex pipe.
Diy how to hook up a hot water tank with pex tubing.
Away from single wall flues on gas water heaters.
Step 3 solder the copper stub to the water heater.