Atwood water heater drain plug tightening
Please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere. So I've got some "OEM" atwood plugs for my water heater that appear to be without any taper (I've read this is apparently normal for what I'm told these ar...
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craig7h wrote:
I could be way off base with this but! I do believe the tank fitting itself is tapered not the plug.
I have also found that the feel is different using the nylon plug vs. the anode rode system in Suburban heaters.
I wrape my nylon plug with the tape and just snug it up, no leaks so far.
Not how standard threaded pipe threads work.
Standard pipe threads have a taper (NPT is the standard) on both the "fitting" and the "plug".
There is non tapered pipe threads and a few other standards but those are typically not employed on typical and normal "household" plumbing.
See HERE for detailed info on pipe threads.
With Attwood water heaters you have a aluminum tank, Suburban you have steel tanks.
Attwood tanks the correct plug is a NYLON plug, that plug is tapered and as you turn it into the tank the taper engages and it gets more difficult to turn.
Nylon plugs are used for several reasons..
Nylon does not react with aluminum.
Nylon deforms easily which protects the soft aluminum tank threads from damage.
Nylon conforms (molds to) easily to the tank threads making a seal to the tank threads without the need for a pipe sealant.
Nylon has a low friction coefficient which means there is no need to use "Teflon" (Teflon tape does not really create a seal, it reduces the friction coefficient and allows you to keep turning the fitting past the point you would get with a dry fitting).
Nylon since it deforms some each time you tighten it, will over time the plug will wearout to the point you can screw it in all the way (no threads showing) and no longer seal at that point. When it gets to the point of no longer sealing, throw it out and replace with a new nylon plug and you will be good as new.
New nylon plugs can be had for a couple of dollars each and are much cheaper than replacing the entire water heater.
Pack of two plugs at Amazon is $10 and will last you many, many seasons..
HERE
I am still using the original nylon plug in my Attwood and that water heater is over 10 yrs old.
