Atwood WH Drain Plug

[Mikesr]

Anyone know for sure what size socket fits the Atwood drain plug ? New to Atwood have always had Suburban before with the anode rod.
Atwood plug is plastic, does it need replaced often ? Does it need Teflon tape? Are the replacement plugs that have drains built in worth it or is it just as easy to remove the plastic plug?

Thanks

[Old-Biscuit]

Mikesr wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:
Funny how everyone worries about "flushing the crud" out of the RV HWH. When was the last time you flushed your HWH at home? I bet for most folks the answer is never.

I agree 100 percent but being that the RV HWH is only 6 gallons and is used in various areas with hard water or high calcium it's probably a good idea to flush them.
The Suburban used an anode rod and the rod is designed to break down the minerals in the water and it does leave behind sediment.
Maybe some with more Atwood experience then me can weigh in on sediment in an Atwood.
I know my other TT with the Suburban had a lot of sediment each year.

On a side note I think most home HWH's have inlet tubes that create a swirl within the tank to prevent sediment.

30/40/50 gallon residential WH has more room at bottom of tank for sediment than a 6/10 gallon WH tank.
ALL water heaters should be drained/flushed at least annually. (Check the paper work with a residential)
Residential WHs also have long anode rods that go in thru top. They also should be checked/replaced BUT most of the time aren't (nor are they drained/flushed-----just replaced when the rust out or stop heating)

All WHs use 'dip' tubes.....residential cold inlet comes in top portion but tube inside extends towards bottom so cold water comes in low pushing hottest water out top. Plus heating is done at bottom then again at top (if electric element).

RV water heaters have cold inlet at bottom with a inlet tube and 'dip' tube on end pointed down. Hot outlet has a outlet tube and 'dip' tube pointed upwards

Atwood WH



Suburban WH



Residential WH

[facory]

Bought it on eBay. Around $5 w/free shipping. Two in the package. Good deal.

[GrandpaKip]

facory wrote:
GrandpaKip where di you buy the drain valve?

I don't recall exactly, but was probably either Glamping World or Amazon.

[legolas]

samhain7 wrote:
Does anyone leave the plug out over the winter?
I secure it back into place. That hole looks like plenty of room for a mouse. Which would totally be my luck.

I put mine back in place but very loose.

[facory]

GrandpaKip where di you buy the drain valve?

[Mikesr]

hohenwald48 wrote:
Funny how everyone worries about "flushing the crud" out of the RV HWH. When was the last time you flushed your HWH at home? I bet for most folks the answer is never.

I agree 100 percent but being that the RV HWH is only 6 gallons and is used in various areas with hard water or high calcium it's probably a good idea to flush them.
The Suburban used an anode rod and the rod is designed to break down the minerals in the water and it does leave behind sediment.
Maybe some with more Atwood experience then me can weigh in on sediment in an Atwood.
I know my other TT with the Suburban had a lot of sediment each year.

On a side note I think most home HWH's have inlet tubes that create a swirl within the tank to prevent sediment.

[hohenwald48]

Funny how everyone worries about "flushing the crud" out of the RV HWH. When was the last time you flushed your HWH at home? I bet for most folks the answer is never.

[samhain7]

Does anyone leave the plug out over the winter?
I secure it back into place. That hole looks like plenty of room for a mouse. Which would totally be my luck.

[Mikesr]

Update:
Did the wintering yesterday and took along a new plug that I got at a local RV dealer.
Here's my conclusion. The difference seems to be with the Atwood OEM plug and the aftermarket plug. Atwood is the 15/16 and it's white nylon. The aftermarket is 7/8 and is black. When I bought them the dealer had the white Atwood in a twin pack for over 6 bucks. The black aftermarket was only a buck 49 each. I got 2 of the aftermarket and they seem better then the OEM and it was easier to use the 7/8th socket with a 8 inch extension bar. I did Teflon tape the new black plug and it fits great. The WH tank was full since July and never drained and the water looked great, no sediment.
Thanks for all the input I feel comfortable doing this job from now on with the Atwood.
On a side note after having a suburban for the past 2 TT's I kind of like the Atwood better. Biggest convenience is that the electric operation switch is inside the TT at the main control panel and the Suburban was always a switch inside the WH door that you had to nearly stand on your head to see.
The Suburban has a nice illuminated rocker switch that's easy to see if the WH is on electric and the LP switch is the same and has a separate DSI fault light. The Suburban LP switch inside the TT was confusing because it only had one light when you turned it on and then when the unit fired the light went out unless there was a fault with the DSI.
Thanks again I've expanded my RV knowledge and that's always good.

[Old-Biscuit]

Mikesr wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I just went out and verified. It is 15/16 inch.

Thanks I will take both sockets along.

Good idea...cause there were 2 sizes used.
New ones are 15/16"

[GrandpaKip]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

LinkedXJ wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Mine was 7/8. I replaced it with a butterfly valve that makes it much easier to drain.

Bingo!


Do this!

Butterfly drain / Petcock

Do you remove valve and flush crud out of tank?

Nope, I open it whenever we break camp and by the time we get to the next stopping point, the tank is empty and the crud is on the ledge below. With a rinse and wipe, it's gone.

[Mikesr]

enblethen wrote:
I just went out and verified. It is 15/16 inch.

Thanks I will take both sockets along.

[enblethen]

I just went out and verified. It is 15/16 inch.

[SoundGuy]

Mikesr wrote:
Thanks for all the good responses to my question. Looks like it will be 7/8 6 point.

I just checked my own Atwood water heater on which I'm using an authentic Atwood plug and there's no way anything less than a 15/16" socket would fit.