Avoid using petcocks on your Water Heater!

[94-Newmar]

Avoid using these petcocks as a replacement for your Hot Water Heater drain plug. The opening within these is very small and quickly become clogged with the normal sediment found in any water system. If clogged it may begin to pass water and then stop, giving you the impression the Hot Water Tank is empty, when it is not, leaving the bottom plumbing line still full of water. I have replaced 2 frozen/burst bypass valve setups this week alone - both due to a clogged petcock, and the customer thinking the heater was empty.

Additionally, when removing the regular plug, the huge rush/flow of water helps to evacuate all the sediment in the tank. You will never be able to flush all the sediment out on a regular basis (which you should do periodically) through these valves. So just use a regular plug

[NeilV]

A full diameter ball valve would be the only way to go if one is that adverse to the plug and definately not brass on an aluminum tank. We are sometimes our own worst enemy when we don't think these things through.

One has to wonder how much of the buildup was from a bad galvanic or electrolytic reaction between the brass fitting and the aluminum tank.

[wa8yxm]

Camping world sells two "Petcock" vavles.. one uses a standard radiator drain petcock same as on my car's radiator.

The other one has a very large petcock, it's nearly the original opening size and it gives a very good flow.

Water Heater Drain Valve - Anderson Brass 247VP-R - Water Heaters - Camping World

Take a look at it, It is the one I use.

[KSCRUDE]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Camping world sells two "Petcock" vavles.. one uses a standard radiator drain petcock same as on my car's radiator.

The other one has a very large petcock, it's nearly the original opening size and it gives a very good flow.

Water Heater Drain Valve - Anderson Brass 247VP-R - Water Heaters - Camping World

Take a look at it, It is the one I use.

I think we need one of these. Haven't drained the hot water tank since we got the rig, but we use it all the time, year round and I never put anything but soft water in the fresh water tank.

[D Lindy]

Used one of those for 5 years with no problems. The petcock was incorporated into an Anode rod. I'd drain the tank every time I went to tow the trl due to the WH being in the front and a heavy tongue weight. I did pull the Anode rod every fall on the final drain to check it before winterization.

[homeless]

If you don't have more money than you need you can simply use a wire tie to poke up into he valve to test for objects..... Did it on my boat for years......

[Rocky Larson]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Camping world sells two "Petcock" vavles.. one uses a standard radiator drain petcock same as on my car's radiator.

The other one has a very large petcock, it's nearly the original opening size and it gives a very good flow.

Water Heater Drain Valve - Anderson Brass 247VP-R - Water Heaters - Camping World

Take a look at it, It is the one I use.

It says rated at 30psi?

[Ray,IN]

In addition to the 30 psi rating, it says it is to replace the plastic plug in your aluminum tank.
That thru-cross arm means it does not have a larger unrestricted outlet capacity.