Trailer about 21 years old and I have never removed the plastic drain plug on my Atwood water heater. Do you think if I remove that "nylon" plug and flush out the water heater I will be able to reinstall plug and have no drips?? I just completed a kitchen faucet replacement and luckily had no leaks.
You can get a brass replacement plug with a drain valve from Amazon for about $10. Once and done.
probably the worst thing you could do, useal the water heater that have nylong plugs are coated on the inside which is why they don't have anodes for plugs. this coating sometimes is applied to the start of the threaded area and by using a bras plug you could catch the coating and cause a crack that extends into the area not sealed by the plug. this would allow corosion of the shell to start. if you have a plastic plug stay with a plastic plug.
I think you have been extremely lucky. There’s an old Navy saying that our rusty ships are held together by paint. Your water heater may be held together by crud. If you decide to flush be ready for a possible full replacement.
I hate to think of the crud built up in your hot water tank after 21 years without flushing the tank.
Yes I think you will be able to remove the nylon plug and even more importantly reinstall it. As said put a bit of Teflon tape on the plug to help seal it if needed. Also don't go monkey tight on the plug. I usually install my nylon plug by hand and then about 1/2 turn more. If it leaks just tighten a bit more.
you can buy brand new ones in most hardware stores that have rv supplies, like three bucks for a pack of two.
I removed all my low point drain plugs and replaced with valves. Much easier to open/close and no tools required.
If it drips just put a couple wraps of Teflon thread seal tape on it. Or buy a new one, they’re pretty cheap and readily available.
