water heater failure

[mike huntzinger]

found this inside the burner of a 16 year old wh. i think it is the flue pipe difusser

[Rick Cantrell]

"found this inside the burner of a 16 year old wh. i think it is the flue pipe difusser"

Yes, that looks like it.

[Vern Heiler]

found this inside the burner of a 16 year old wh. i think it is the flue pipe difusser
More common name is "baffle".

[Bob Harper]

turbulator by some mfrs. Otherwise, flue baffle very common. These usually have 'wings' at the top so they are suspended. Not a good sign but this WH needs to either be replaced or at least really gone over by a pro.