I know it's been discussed before but if the drain plug on an Atwood HWH is plastic so as not to create a metallurgic reaction to the aluminum tank then why doesn't the pressure relief valve or the thermostat coming off the gas valve cause the same reaction?

The PRV will......it's just that 1) it isn't removed as frequently as the drain plug should be 2) nobodies makes a plastic prv3) Drain plug is nylon which can handle the pressure/temperature and will not destroy the drain plug threads when you remove it. They come in a 2 pack for a reason.The thermostat just touches tank wall..not in contact with water.

Thanks for the reply Bisquit,you helped me a couple of weeks ago with my gas valve. I think what I called the thermostat isn't. What I mean is the long copper looking rod that is attached to the gas valve. #2 My drain plug broke off in the tank I got it out but my new nylon plug will not thread into the tank? I thought the threads my be bad so I threaded in a brass fitting that went in perfectly. Any thoughts on why the nylon ones won't catch?

Drain plug is nylon, the others are probably brass. Neither will corrode but nylon is much less expensive than brass.

pigman1 wrote:How do you spell cheap??I don't think it is a matter of cost. Atwood was actually quite smart when the specified the nylon drain plug. If you cross thread the drain plug when you install it, it's much better to sacrifice a nylon drain plug than the threads on the hot water heater. And it's one heck of a lot less expense for an owner to replace the nylon drain plug every 5-10 years than having to fork over $15 for a Suburban anode rod/drain plug once or twice a year. I've owned rigs with Atwood and Suburban, and I'll take the Atwood version any day.

Atwood Hot Water Drain Plug | Good Sam Community

33 Replies

pigman1
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
How do you spell cheap??
yankee_camper
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
Thanks for the reply Bisquit,you helped me a couple of weeks ago with my gas valve. I think what I called the thermostat isn't. What I mean is the long copper looking rod that is attached to the gas valve. #2 My drain plug broke off in the tank I got it out but my new nylon plug will not thread into the tank? I thought the threads my be bad so I threaded in a brass fitting that went in perfectly. Any thoughts on why the nylon ones won't catch?
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 20, 2014
The PRV will......it's just that
1) it isn't removed as frequently as the drain plug should be
2) nobodies makes a plastic prv
3) Drain plug is nylon which can handle the pressure/temperature and will not destroy the drain plug threads when you remove it. They come in a 2 pack for a reason.

The thermostat just touches tank wall..not in contact with water.

Forum Discussion

Atwood Hot Water Drain Plug

33 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Atwood water heater problem

House battery drain

Atwood water heater drain plug tightening

Grey water tank won't drain completely

Atwood Hot water heater drain plug