Bradford White 415-51230-18 Hydrojet Dip Tube

The Bradford White 415-51230-18 Hydrojet Dip Tube is the factory-original cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) cold water dip tube with a 3/4" NPT connection, built for Bradford White water heaters equipped with the Hydrojet® Total Performance System. It threads into the cold water inlet at the top of the tank and carries incoming water down to the bottom of the tank, so cold supply water never short-circuits straight across to the hot water outlet. This is the part to reach for when a cracked, brittle, or broken dip tube shows up as lukewarm water, hot water that runs out fast, or plastic flakes plugging faucet aerators and fixture screens.

What sets a Hydrojet tube apart from a plain straight tube is the series of jet ports along its length. Those ports throw cold inlet water across the tank floor and keep sediment stirred up so it flushes out with normal draw instead of baking into scale on the bottom of the tank — the main reason gas tanks lose first hour rating and burn out early. Bradford White installs the Hydrojet Total Performance System as standard on its top-connect residential water heaters. Bradford White supplies Hydrojet tubes in several overall lengths and nipple sizes by model and serial number, so the related 415-51230-03 (3/4" NPT x 2" nipple x 32" overall) and 415-51230-25 (3/4" NPT x 3" nipple x 35" overall) are not interchangeable with the 415-51230-18. Match the tube to the model and serial number on the tank nameplate rather than by thread size alone.

Key Benefits

• Exact OEM Fit: Built to Bradford White's original Hydrojet specification with the correct 3/4" NPT cold water connection, so the jet ports sit where the engineers intended.
• PEX Construction: Cross-linked polyethylene tubing suited to potable water service inside a water heater tank, replacing the same material Bradford White fits at the factory.
• Sediment Control: The jet port design agitates the tank bottom to reduce sediment buildup, protecting the burner and tank bottom and extending tank life.
• Restores Hot Water Capacity: A new tube puts cold water at the bottom of the tank where it belongs, so the heater delivers its rated first hour rating again.

Common Questions

• What does the 415-51230-18 fit? Bradford White water heaters with the Hydrojet system and a 3/4" NPT cold water inlet. Lengths differ by model and serial number, so confirm against the nameplate before ordering.
• How do I know the dip tube has failed? The classic signs are lukewarm water, hot water that runs out quickly even though the burner is firing, and white or gray plastic flakes collecting in aerators and shower heads.
• What do I need to do to swap it? Shut off the cold water supply and the gas or power, relieve pressure, and drain the tank below the inlet. Unthread the old cold water nipple and tube, install the new 415-51230-18 with pipe thread sealant on the 3/4" NPT threads, then refill and purge air from the lines before relighting.

Disclaimer: While we strive for 100% accuracy, product data and specifications are subject to change. Please contact our team to confirm compatibility or technical details before purchasing.