Hot water tank plug never seen one like this
We bought a new to us travel trailer with an Atwood hot water heater. Instead of the normal nylon drain plug they have a galvanized square plug on it For the life of me I can't get it off it seems ...
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Someone put in the wrong plug..
Aluminum and steel, not the best of friends add water and you get electrolysis.
A brass plug would have been a better choice.
Since it has a square head, you can use a socket, but the trick is only one of the socket styles will fit.. You can try a 6 point or 12 point, I can't remember which one will work, but one of them will fit.
Then you can use an ratchet with an extension that is long enough to get the ratchet outside the tank.
You will need to take it slowly when removing the plug, there will most likely be a lot of rust in the plug threads inside the tank.
Turn the plug less than a 1/4 turn out, then reverse to tighten the plug then reverse to remove and take slightly past the 1/4 turn point. By reversing you allow any build up inside to clean off the plug threads which were exposed to the water.
Don't force it, if it tightens up reverse and the direction , you may need to repeat this a few times.
If you force the plug out you risk damaging the softer threads in the aluminum tank..
Once out, go buy a proper plastic nylon plug, they are dirt cheap at about $2 for a package of 2.
Aluminum and steel, not the best of friends add water and you get electrolysis.
A brass plug would have been a better choice.
Since it has a square head, you can use a socket, but the trick is only one of the socket styles will fit.. You can try a 6 point or 12 point, I can't remember which one will work, but one of them will fit.
Then you can use an ratchet with an extension that is long enough to get the ratchet outside the tank.
You will need to take it slowly when removing the plug, there will most likely be a lot of rust in the plug threads inside the tank.
Turn the plug less than a 1/4 turn out, then reverse to tighten the plug then reverse to remove and take slightly past the 1/4 turn point. By reversing you allow any build up inside to clean off the plug threads which were exposed to the water.
Don't force it, if it tightens up reverse and the direction , you may need to repeat this a few times.
If you force the plug out you risk damaging the softer threads in the aluminum tank..
Once out, go buy a proper plastic nylon plug, they are dirt cheap at about $2 for a package of 2.
