6 Gal Hot water tank
Does the drain plug have the same thread size as a new std size element found at Home Depot or Lowes? Why not use a standard element ?? Cannot be adapted ??
Forum Discussion
- I take it your water heater doesn't have an electric element for heating....gas only and you want to 'convert' it to electric heat.
After market elements kits are available (Hott rod & Lightning Rod)
They screw into the drain hole (1/2" on Atwood Brand and 3/4" on Suburban Brand), have their own t-stat and plug into an outlet. You just have to provide the outlet.
Suburban Brand requires the use of an anode rod....the kits come with a small rod.
And BOTH MFG. do not recommend using a drain hole heating element and will void warranty if used.
Now IF your water heater came with electric heating element....those are std. - Previous owner(s) installed a Hott Rod in my Atwood and it works great. Only problem is you lose the drain plug and in my case the element and associated plug cap jams up against the gas regulator and piping and is a PIA to remove if it is desired to drain.
wildtoad wrote:
Previous owner(s) installed a Hott Rod in my Atwood and it works great. Only problem is you lose the drain plug and in my case the element and associated plug cap jams up against the gas regulator and piping and is a PIA to remove if it is desired to drain.
And that is why Atwood (and Suburban) will not recommend them...PITA to remove and drain/flush tank routinely which IS recommended.- Why cant you tap the 3/4 inch drain hole to 1 inch and install a normal household water heating element (110) volt. ? Forget the warranty !! Thanks again for your comments.
JCR-1 wrote:
There may not be enough material around the hole that comprises the threaded fitting. I know my old WH has just an adequate fitting welded onto the tank, enough for a 3/4" fitting.
Why cant you tap the 3/4 inch drain hole to 1 inch and install a normal household water heating element (110) volt. ? Forget the warranty !! Thanks again for your comments.westend wrote:
JCR-1 wrote:
There may not be enough material around the hole that comprises the threaded fitting. I know my old WH has just an adequate fitting welded onto the tank, enough for a 3/4" fitting.
Why cant you tap the 3/4 inch drain hole to 1 inch and install a normal household water heating element (110) volt. ? Forget the warranty !! Thanks again for your comments.
And if your have a 3/4" drain hole (Suburban Brand) that is a glass-lined tank....so drill away. Just have to replace tank after you break the glass lining.
And if your drain hole is 1/2" (Atwood Brand) your will not have enough material left after drilling to tap for threads.
That is why the aftermarket ones are for sell......fit in existing drain hole. Course they are just 450W elements- I have used a Hott Rod in my 14 year old Atwood for the last 10 years full time. It was 4 years old when installed. Out of Warranty. :)
I did have to replace one Hott Rod in that time. If you keep your receipt they replace it for free only cost is sending broken one to them. - Glass lined does not mean it has glass in it. it means it has a fibreglass insulation around it. Does not break!!!
JCR-1 wrote:
Huh?
Glass lined does not mean it has glass in it. it means it has a fibreglass insulation around it. Does not break!!!
