Tip on the right tool

[rickhise]

Anybody else's have an issue with replacing the hot water tank drain plug.
My issue is keep the drain plug started in straight.
Simple I know. Lol
Perhaps a pair of vice grips would work better than a socket

[Lantley]

I still prefer the valve. Pick your poison.
I'll take my chances with the crud crud vs. dealing with stripped threads.
In the long run the crud could be an issue. However stripped threads are an issue right away.
There are people struggling to get the plug back in the hole no thanks...
Valve keeps it easy. No struggling, finding the right toll,use your fingers etc. just open to drain close to contain.

[Old-Biscuit]

SidecarFlip wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Ditch the plugs altogether and put a valve in lieu of the plug.
Once installed no tolls required.

All well and good on an Atwood / Dometic. Not good on a suburban. The tank will perforate after some usage.

Not really that good on Atwood.
Atwood drain hole is only 1/2" which makes flushing crud/scale out harder.
Valve restricts opening even more so.

And those brass drain *****...1/8" hole

OK for routine DRAINING.....but flushing crud/scale need to completely remove ANY plug/valve/pet-**** and POWER Flush


As for Suburban....OEM anode is Magnesium BUT Suburban offers optional Aluminum which will work and not react with microbes that can cause that sulfur smell like the Magnesium can.


Either on....

Clean up drain hole threads using a pipe nipple (Or tap if you have one)
Atwood 1/2" NPT Brass
Suburban 3/4" NPT Steel

[SidecarFlip]

Lantley wrote:
Ditch the plugs altogether and put a valve in lieu of the plug.
Once installed no tolls required.

All well and good on an Atwood / Dometic. Not good on a suburban. The tank will perforate after some usage.

[SidecarFlip]

Atwood's take a plastic / nylon plug, Suburban takes an anode rod. Mt refernce is to a suburban with the anode rod...

While on the subject, use a genuine Surburban magnesium anode, not the Camco aluminum one. The aluminum one does not provide adequate cathodic protection to the tank.

Atwood/Dometic don't need an anode rod.

[Lantley]

Ditch the plugs altogether and put a valve in lieu of the plug.
Once installed no tolls required.

[Lar114]

I got rid of the nylon plugs, they would be hard to get stated after I had one break off then had to cut it out in pieces with a hack saw blade.
Went to Home Depot and bought a brass plug. It starts a lot easier now with 17mm socket with a 6 inch exstention and 3/8 ratchet. Only need to snug it so it doesn't leak, also use Teflon tape. No problems.

[enblethen]

I use a socket on my Atwood with a long extension.
Start the plug with your fingers. If threads are clean it makes it easier.
Suburbans are a pain as the anode makes them ackward t balance to get iron threads started.

[agesilaus]

None of these work? Amazon

[DrewE]

Do you have an Atwood or Suburban water heater? I'm guessing it must be a Suburban if you can get a socket on it.

I have not found an ideal tool for my Atwood yet. I wish someone would make a 15/16" stubby offset box end wrench (and sell it for less than the cost of a nice dinner out). Vice grips likely will chew up the end of the plug before too long.

Sometimes I find it helps in starting screws, etc. to turn them backwards a rotation or so before going forwards to get everything lined up properly and not cross-threaded, as Farmboy666 also suggested.

[SidecarFlip]

gbopp wrote:
I use my fingers to start the plug. Less chance of cross threading.

Fingers don't work with mine unless you have extremely skinny fingers, no room between the burner and the gas valve to get fingers in...

[SidecarFlip]

On a Suburban they are a PITA to get started right without cross threading. I use the needle nose vice grip method to start mine. Wrapping the nut with masking tape and shoving in the socket is another method that works.

I wonder how many get cross threaded when getting winterized and ultimately leak?

[Farmboy666]

Make sure the threads are clean and not buggered up and turn a little counter clockwise until you feel the plug seat. It should turn easy for the first few spins before it get tighter, I use small water pump pliers.

[gbopp]

I use my fingers to start the plug. Less chance of cross threading.

[Lwiddis]

I get about three full turns using my hand. Do you?