Changing Atwood water heater plug to brass
I had to move my motorhome from it’s previous storage to a new place and the new place isn’t heated. So for the first time in 15 years I have to winterize. But since I use it during the winter I wa...
Forum Discussion
MrWizard wrote:
I am considering a brass plug, as my plastic plug and delicate Alu threads are leaking, even with Teflon tape on the plastic plug
Going to follow this thread
Maybe some pipe dope on a new plastic plug ?
I do drain once a year , and would prefer for it to be removable
Buy a new Nylon plug when they start to seep/leak.
New Nylon plugs are cheap, new water heater, not so much.
Seeping or leaking means the Nylon PLUG is worn out and time to replace.
Teflon in this case just makes things leak worse, no need or reason to use it on the proper Nylon plugs. Teflon reduces the friction which allows one to continue tightening pipe.
As mentioned, pipe threads are tapered meaning the diameter is smaller on one end and increases on the male end (outside thread).
Female end (inside thread)the outside is larger and the further the pipe goes in the smaller it is.
Tapered pipe thread when done properly can actually seal without any need for Teflon or pipe dope.
I have a 110 yr old auto engine which uses spark plugs with tapered pipe threads, no Teflon or pipe dope and it still seals!
I do kind of like that brass pipe extension someone did. However with the cost of brass pipe, fittings and cap it couldn't be cheap.
Camco 2 pack of Nylon plugs $4.56 HERE
My water heater is going on 12 yrs with the original plug, I should buy a replacement soon since it is now worn enough that the plug is almost out of threads (remember, it IS tapered so as the plug wears down it will screw in further until you run out of threads).
I use a socket wrench with a short extension to tighten mine, start threading plug by hand then switch to socket wrench and only tighten enough to stop the seeping and no more.
