Updated: April 2025
Nothing keeps things cleaner and more sanitary than fresh hot water. It can do many things, from washing to cleaning and cooking. Hot water is your lifeline to a home that’s clean, sanitary, and functioning. But when the water heater malfunctions, it can disrupt daily living in your home. But before you panic, you may want to consider if the problem lies in a small part known as the dip tube.
What is a Broken Dip Tube?
A broken dip tube is a common water heater issue that can leave you with lukewarm water and rising energy bills. The dip tube is a long plastic pipe inside your water heater that connects to the cold water inlet at the top of the tank. Its job is to send cold water to the bottom of the tank—right where the heating element or burner is located.
When the dip tube is working properly, it helps keep hot water at the top of the tank, ready for use. But if the dip tube breaks or wears down, cold water mixes with hot water at the top instead of being sent to the bottom. That throws off the tank’s internal temperature balance and leads to:
- Lukewarm water at your taps
- Shorter hot water supply
- Higher energy use
- Plastic debris clogging fixtures (if the tube deteriorates)
Most dip tubes don’t break suddenly—they slowly degrade over time, especially in older water heaters or models made between 1993 and 1997, when a defective batch of plastic was commonly used.
If you’re getting inconsistent hot water, a broken dip tube might be the cause. It’s a small part, but it plays a big role in how well your water heater works.
How to tell if Dip Tube is Broken?
You can tell if a dip tube is broken by watching for common signs like lukewarm water, temperature swings, or plastic fragments in your faucets. A broken dip tube causes cold water to mix with hot water at the top of the tank instead of being directed to the bottom, where it should be heated. This reduces your hot water supply and can lead to higher energy bills. Below are the top warning signs to look for.
There Are Sudden Changes in Water Temperature
Your water should remain hot at all times during use for your comfort. A good dip tube will keep your water temperature at a comfortable level.
A dip tube that’s defective fails to keep your water hot when you need it. It will try and push cold water towards the bottom, but the water will not heat up well. Cracks inside the plastic allow cold water escape to the top and mingle with the hot water. This is why lukewarm water comes out.
Remember that anytime cold water mixes with hot water, it impacts your supply. And when this happens, it’s time to call a professional plumber.
You Notice The Sudden Appearance of Tiny Plastic Bits Around Fixtures
Constant water exposure erodes your dip tube and eats away at the plastic. Sometimes sediment creeps in and impacts the plastic of your dip tube. You may barely notice it at first when you see tiny white particles forming around your faucet and shower heads. At first glance, they resemble dust or soap residue.
But if you take a closer look, you’ll find that they are bits of plastic that come right from the dip tube. Your water won’t come out as strong or as fast because it transports these particles into your fixture.
Your Water Comes Out Hot Then Gets Cold
When cold water sneaks out of a crack, it mixes quickly with hot water and causes the temperature to drop immediately. Dip tubes that are chipped, broken, or worn are no longer able to keep hot and cold water separate during heating. Because the dip tube is constantly under water, erosion results and water builds up.
If your water remains lukewarm or fails to heat up, you’re most likely dealing with a defective dip tube in need of attention. Getting it replaced will help you restore your supply quickly.
What Is The Lifespan of a Dip Tube?
Dip tubes are built to last about 8 to 12 years, but their actual lifespan depends on the material and your water conditions. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, or was installed between 1993 and 1997, the dip tube may already be deteriorating—especially if you’re noticing symptoms like lukewarm water or plastic debris.
Older dip tubes made from polypropylene, particularly those used in the mid-90s, were known to break down much faster—sometimes in just a few years. Even newer dip tubes can wear out early if your home has high chlorine levels, hard water, or frequent temperature swings.
What’s important to know: dip tubes usually don’t fail overnight. They slowly break down over time, so you might notice reduced hot water performance well before the dip tube is completely shot.
If your water heater is aging and you’re dealing with any of the issues covered above—short showers, inconsistent temperatures, or visible plastic pieces—it’s likely the dip tube is to blame.
What Causes a Dip Tube to Break?
Dip tubes break down over time due to a mix of chemical exposure, heat, material flaws, and water quality issues. The most common cause is long-term exposure to chlorine in municipal water, which weakens the plastic. High temperatures, hard water, and poor manufacturing materials—especially in older units—can speed up the failure process.
- Chlorine in the Water – Chlorine is added to municipal water to disinfect it, but over time it breaks down plastic materials like those used in dip tubes. The higher the water temperature, the faster this chemical reaction happens. This is why dip tubes tend to wear out faster in homes with hotter water settings.
- Constant Heat Exposure – Water heaters operate at 120–140°F. That steady heat causes stress on the dip tube, especially where it connects to the tank. Over time, this weakens the plastic and leads to cracking or brittleness.
- Low-Quality Materials in Older Units – Dip tubes made between 1993 and 1997 are especially prone to failure. Many were made with subpar materials that lacked the stabilizers needed to resist heat and chemical damage. If your water heater is from that era, a failing dip tube is a common issue.
- Wear and Tear from Water Flow – Even under normal use, water flowing through the dip tube creates constant pressure and movement. Over time, this motion can cause fatigue in the plastic—especially at the connection point—leading to cracks or breaks.
- Hard Water and Mineral Buildup – In homes with hard water, minerals like calcium can build up inside the tank. This buildup can wear down the dip tube from the outside, slowly grinding away at the plastic and weakening it from within.
These stressors don’t usually cause a dip tube to snap overnight. Instead, they lead to gradual deterioration—often showing up first as lukewarm water, temperature swings, or bits of plastic in your faucets.
Think It’s a Broken Dip Tube? Here’s What Else It Could Be
Not all hot water problems are caused by a broken dip tube—but many of the symptoms can look similar. If you’re dealing with lukewarm water, short showers, or inconsistent temperature, it’s worth considering a few other possibilities before jumping to conclusions.
For example, a failed heating element, thermostat issue, or pilot light outage can also reduce your hot water supply. However, those problems typically affect your entire system—meaning you’ll often get no hot water at all.
What makes dip tube failure stand out are these signs:
- You start with hot water, but it turns lukewarm fast
- You still have hot water—it just doesn’t last long
- You’re finding tiny plastic pieces in faucets or showerheads
If that sounds familiar and your water heater is more than 8–10 years old, your dip tube is a likely culprit. Still not sure? That’s where we come in.
Fix Your Dip Tube and Restore Reliable Hot Water
Running out of hot water too quickly? Seeing bits of plastic in your faucets or showerheads? These are common signs of a broken dip tube—and the good news is, it’s a straightforward fix.
At Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric, we offer expert water heater services in Rockwall, Plano, Spring, and Fort Worth, serving homeowners throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth and Greater Houston areas.
If you’re not sure whether the dip tube is the issue, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule a quick diagnostic—you’ll be back to reliable hot water in no time.
