Look on your water heater for the serial number. This is probably on the back of your tank. The first four numbers typically display the month and year of when the heater was made (for example, 0200 means that the heater was made in February 2000). If the third and fourth numbers in the serial number are 93, 94, 95, 96, or 97, you may have a defective dip tube.

If you have a microscope, use it to have a closer look at the particles. Very small fragments of these plastic particles can get into your water supply, but experts say that they are non-toxic and do not pose a health risk. They can, however, be damaging to appliances that use water such as a dishwasher or washing machine.

For an electric water heater, turn the power off at the breaker in the circuit box. For a gas heater, turn off the pilot light on the tank.

The inlet pipe valve should be on the right side of the tank.

Place a bucket under this valve to catch any water that might drain out at this valve point.

This water will be extremely hot, so take care to drain the water where it will not harm anyone or anything.

If your tank sits in a low area of your house (such as the basement), you may need to use an electric pump to help drain out the water. Pump the water into a bathtub in a higher location (upstairs bathroom, for example). [5] X Research source

You can also use a wooden dowel to hook in the metal ring that sits inside the top of the dip tube. The handles of pliers might also work.

Run water through the dip tube to see if any water leaks through cracks or holes that you can’t see. Start with a dry dip tube so that you will be able to notice water leaks.

Water heaters typically use a straight dip tube, although some people prefer a curved dip tube. A curved tube swirls the water in the tank when water travels through it, which helps reduce the amount of sediment buildup in the bottom of your tank. Check to see if your water heater is under warranty. You may be able to get a replacement dip tube for free if yours is defective.

Curved tubes should point away from the drain valve so that they swirl the water inside the tank. Look inside the dip tube to find a mark. This mark indicates the direction of the tube’s curve so you can keep track of the direction that this curve is pointing when you install the tube.

Pour out the hose in the tub to get remaining water out of the hose.

It is possible, although unlikely, that you need to replace fixtures that have been damaged by debris from your water heater.