Broken plug ion Atwood water heater

[GordonH]

I have just broken the plastic plug on our heater. Has anyone any suggestions re removing the broken piece. A wedge might help but of course I do not have a wedge. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Gordon.

[John_Joey]

I really hate it when people suggest using a tool to cut the plug. As you found out the treads are aluminum and can be EASILY damaged. Lucky you could cut new ones without having a further problem.

Wolfe had the correct answer. Here is a thread I did showing how it's done. It is cheap and very simple with no problem of wrecking the threads. If it doesn't do the trick then resort to more destructive ways.

EASY PLUG REMOVAL WITH PICTURES

[GordonH]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I did manage to remove the broken plug BUT damaged the threads. Worried about the problem overnight then went to a good plumbing company in town. They lent me a tool to re-repair the heater threads and things are AOK.What's the next problem?????????? Gordon.

[SteveB]

Got mine out with a pipe nipple remover purchased from Harbor Freight.

[rockylarson]

Broken Plug Remover

[downtheroad]

When I had an Atwood WH I heated up the tip of a flat blade screw driver with a hand held propane torch. I pushed it into the plug (it melted it's way in,) and I was able to turn and remove it.

[bob213]

There is a tool to remove broken sprinkler risers that will work if you carefully drill out the middle of the plug. It has a T handle and an easyout type end on it.

[wolfe10]

Go to Home Depo and get the tool for removing broken sprinkler heads. It is square and will work fine for removing the remainder of the plug.

When putting in the new Atwood nylon plug, be sure to wrap it with 2.5 turns of Teflon tape. Will make extraction much easier next time.

[sch911]

Got mine out with a screwdriver and an ice pick. And you MUST replace it with a plastic plug. Do not use brass, or steel or you will never be able to remove it again due to galvanic corrosion.

[Harvard]

Take it out in pieces using needle nose pliers.

[imgoin4it]

A friend punched through his broken plug then used a hack saw blade to carefully cut down to the threads. He was careful not to cut into the threads. He then started breaking out pieces . Once he got a little out the remaining portion came out pretty easy.

[1492]

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