Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > RV Systems & Appliances
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-23-2021, 09:41 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
tombottcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Airdrie Alberta Canada
Posts: 101
i replaced mine with brass 5 years ago and remove and drain every trip i just use Teflon tape and have had zero problems was wondering why you frown on the brass replacement plugs ?
tombottcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 04-24-2021, 05:17 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,996
A mix of galvanically active dissimilar metals can present a galling situation such as was the OP's complaint.
__________________
TandW
TandW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 06:09 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
SKP Kirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Part-time out of Mesquite, TX
Posts: 1,103
Quote:
Originally Posted by amosnandy View Post
. At the first sign of rounding the corners or striped threads toss it and put a new one in.
Atwood recommends a new plug each time that you drain the tank but I usually use the same one 2 or 3 times. I did use a plug too long with my first Atwood water heater and had to drill it out and then cut & scrape the last of it so learned that lesson the hard way.
__________________
Good Travelin! Kirk
Full-time 11 years, now part-time.
Kirk & Pam's Great Adventure!
SKP Kirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 09:13 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Ljwt330's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Capistrano Beach, California
Posts: 4,465
Quote:
Originally Posted by tombottcat View Post
i replaced mine with brass 5 years ago and remove and drain every trip i just use Teflon tape and have had zero problems was wondering why you frown on the brass replacement plugs ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TandW View Post
A mix of galvanically active dissimilar metals can present a galling situation such as was the OP's complaint.
The way you perform your water heater maintenance is admirable, and is no doubt mitigating the galvanic potential. Also, water quality and frequency of heating play a part in galvanic corrosion as well, so there are many variables.


The point really is, use of dissimilar metals, such as aluminum and brass, will, eventually, lead to galvanic corrosion, if proper protections are not taken. Water heater manufacturers require specific metals to be used to avoid any problems with corrosion because, a) they know it is inevitable, and b) most rv owners are not as conscientious as you.
__________________
Larry, Eileen, and Finley
2004 Alpine 36FDDS
Third motor home, first Alpine, no need for another.
Ljwt330 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 09:16 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7,870
Teflon tape does NOT electrically isolate the plug from the tank.


If you doubt that, check with your ohm meter. You will find 0 ohms= continuity.
__________________
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38FDDS. Ex: 1997 Safari Sahara. Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
wolfe10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 09:22 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,996
Ironically, the T&P valve is made of brass. But when my bag of nylon drain plugs arrives on Tuesday that Brass drain valve is coming out.
__________________
TandW
TandW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 09:23 AM   #21
Senior Member
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,810
Quote:
Originally Posted by tombottcat View Post
i replaced mine with brass 5 years ago and remove and drain every trip i just use Teflon tape and have had zero problems was wondering why you frown on the brass replacement plugs ?
You have gotten lucky. Probably because you use Teflon tape. Probably over do it. Throw the brass away and put a nylon one in. If the brass cuts through the tape and contacts the aluminum eventually it will eat the aluminum threads.

$7 a dozen on Amazon.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Journey
39K
Cat C7
amosnandy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 07:31 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Ray,IN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,652
Quote:
Originally Posted by TandW View Post
Thought these tanks were made up from SS so as to be corrosion free, and not need any sacrificial anode.
Atwood water heater service manual-pdf page 26 description of tank construction. It does not use an anode, there is no corrosion if directions are followed.
Page 26 also describes the galvanic corrosion resulting from using an iron plug.
DO NOT REMOVE AND DISCARD THE OVER TEMPERATURE/OVER PRESSURE DEVICE AND REPLACE WITH ANY TYPE OF PLUG!


A side note concerning galvanic action. I forgot and put aluminum valve caps on my brass pickup truck stems. Eventually I had to add air to them, they were very difficult to remove, twisted one valve stem off resulting in having to remove wheel and take it to a tire repair shop for a new valve stem with attached TPMS, $49.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA." My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Ray,IN is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2021, 08:24 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,689
Quote:
Originally Posted by TandW View Post
Ironically, the T&P valve is made of brass. But when my bag of nylon drain plugs arrives on Tuesday that Brass drain valve is coming out.
Correct....the T&P is brass
BUT it is NOT routinely removed/reinstalled like the drain plug

Come time to replace you will find they are a real bugger to loosen
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2021, 06:09 AM   #24
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,996
Actually, the weeping one I replaced in the Allegro 31IA several years back came out quite easily. The difficulty was finding a "Shortie" that wouldn't bottom out in the tank.
__________________
TandW
TandW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2021, 02:49 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,689
Quote:
Originally Posted by TandW View Post
Actually, the weeping one I replaced in the Allegro 31IA several years back came out quite easily. The difficulty was finding a "Shortie" that wouldn't bottom out in the tank.

Home Depot, Lowes, ACE etc
Just a standard T&P with 4" probe

Nothing RV Special
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2021, 03:05 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
153stars's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Braidwood Il.
Posts: 8,300
I didn't read all comments but have you tried a socket for square head that most of these plugs are made with. A 12point will only work on fairly loose ones.
I have rigged a setup for 1/2 or 3/4 head plugs with square end of socket and nut with matching nut and socket.
__________________
95 Monaco Crown Royale
M11 400hp, 4060 trans.
Aquahot, Generac Guardian7.5k
153stars is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2021, 05:32 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 105
thanks for all the reply's since I broke part of it off I think I have a problem just going leave it alone still works fine just wanted to clean it out . thanks again everyone
bradc344 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2021, 07:55 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
baraff's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,750
Quote:
Originally Posted by tombottcat View Post
i replaced mine with brass 5 years ago and remove and drain every trip i just use Teflon tape and have had zero problems was wondering why you frown on the brass replacement plugs ?

Like tombottcat above, I had been using a brass plug on our Atwood tank and draining it after every trip. Even with teflon tape I noticed the tank drain threads were getting pretty rough looking. I was able to clean them up with a wire brush and ran the brass plug in and out a few times.
I ordered a bag of nylon plugs and will use them from now on. This heater is 16-17 years old and doesn't need any additional help to deteriorate.
__________________
Burns & Diane
2005 Winnebago Aspect 26A/2012 Subaru Impreza toad
Illinois! - Where the politicians make the license plates......
baraff is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
atwood, heater, water heater, water, heat



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Atwood 10 Gal. Water Heater Draining- Plug Inside a Plug? Nomad Mike RV Systems & Appliances 22 01-22-2016 07:55 AM
Dometic getting hotter dorcol RV Systems & Appliances 13 05-29-2015 09:11 PM
Normal? Fridge coils hotter on bottom of fridge than top Senior Chief Vintage RV's 4 09-04-2011 07:59 PM
Engine temperature running hotter then normal. M&EM Workhorse and Chevrolet Chassis Motorhome Forum 29 05-06-2011 04:35 PM
Hotter then Jestme13 Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 10 08-09-2007 01:35 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.