Water heater drain plug question

Farminatr · 07-31-2008, 05:24 AM

My white plastic 1/2 pipe thread drain plug on my hot water heater sprung a leak so I was replacing it with a galvanized pipe plug when a neighboring camper suggested that it may cause a corrosion problem as they are unlike materials. The female end of the hot water heater may be aluminum, but the galvanized plug would be unlikely to spring a leak like the plastic one did. Is there a recommendation on what type of plug to use? Thanks. Farminatr

Farminatr · 07-31-2008, 05:24 AM

My white plastic 1/2 pipe thread drain plug on my hot water heater sprung a leak so I was replacing it with a galvanized pipe plug when a neighboring camper suggested that it may cause a corrosion problem as they are unlike materials. The female end of the hot water heater may be aluminum, but the galvanized plug would be unlikely to spring a leak like the plastic one did. Is there a recommendation on what type of plug to use? Thanks. Farminatr

george henry · 07-31-2008, 05:32 AM

I would replace it with the OEM from the manufacture. they are not expensive and it is best to keep a spare in your tool box in the M/H

D and J · 07-31-2008, 07:01 AM

I bought a metal "drain" plug when we were not fulltiming. It was then easier to open its valve to drain the tank when we were not using the trailer.

Now, with fulltime use, I went back to the inexspensive plastic plug, and drain and flush the tank about every 4 months.

I have found that my external water softener greatly adds to salt deposits inside the heater, so I flush it more often now.

Doug

Frankie · 07-31-2008, 07:13 AM

One of the main reasons they use plastic is because of overheating high pressure situations,plastic will blow off,thats in case the pressure relief valve fails. Corrosion with a brass plug has a potential to weld the plug to tank.I keep 3-4 plastic plugs in my tool box along with joint tape.Finger tight then a full turn with a pliers.

clspds · 07-31-2008, 08:22 AM

When we first got our unit the dealer recommended that I replace the plastic plug with a brass plug wrapped with teflon tape. I have also heard of corrosion using unlike metals. I flush our tank every 2 or 3 months and have not had a problem with corrosion in 4 years.

Paul

rockintom · 07-31-2008, 09:25 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by clspds:
When we first got our unit the dealer recommended that I replace the plastic plug with a brass plug wrapped with teflon tape. I have also heard of corrosion using unlike metals. I flush our tank every 2 or 3 months and have not had a problem with corrosion in 4 years.

Paul </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What Paul said. I use Permetex high performance thread sealer from auto parts store as we like to go real fast! Just teasin' about the later.

Doug,
You are right...there are still deposits with the water softener, but the residue is softer and easier to flush than non softened water deposits. We are FTing and I flush every 3-4 months. The Atwood rep says twice a year is all that's necessary. I get too much "stuff" out of it to let it go that far for me.

TXiceman · 07-31-2008, 09:46 AM

Stay with the OEM plastic plug to avoid problems. They are cheap and a few spares are easy to carry.

Ken

Farminatr · 07-31-2008, 04:34 PM

Sounds like the consensus is to stay with the plastic. I'll get several when I get to the dealer, but it's about a hundred mile drive there and back and I couldn't do it for a plastic plug with the gas prices today. I have a plastic plug from the local farm store, but it doesn't look to be substantial like the OEM. Thanks again. Farminatr