Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
- Thread starter Papaw2812
- Start date
Grandview Trailer Sa
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
If you are saying the hex head of the plug broke off and the threads are left in the water heater, it will be tricky. Since the plug is hollow behind the head you should be able to VERY carefully take a hack saw blade and stick it through the plug. Cut the plastic out to the threads in the water heater. DO NOT cut into the water heater. Do this 3 or 4 times around the plug. You should have weakened the plug enough to take a pick and break out what is left in the threads. Take your time and you should be able to get it. If you start getting frustrated, take a walk and try again later.
If you are saying the hex head of the plug broke off and the threads are left in the water heater, it will be tricky. Since the plug is hollow behind the head you should be able to VERY carefully take a hack saw blade and stick it through the plug. Cut the plastic out to the threads in the water heater. DO NOT cut into the water heater. Do this 3 or 4 times around the plug. You should have weakened the plug enough to take a pick and break out what is left in the threads. Take your time and you should be able to get it. If you start getting frustrated, take a walk and try again later.
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
You could use an easy out to get the drain plug out. This will keep you from possibly cutting into the water heater threads. Drill the center of the plug out, and get an easy out from a hardware store or home building center that will match the drilled hole. Insert the easy out and it will grab the plastic when you turn it out. Hope this helps.
Jeff Welte
Rockford, IL
You could use an easy out to get the drain plug out. This will keep you from possibly cutting into the water heater threads. Drill the center of the plug out, and get an easy out from a hardware store or home building center that will match the drilled hole. Insert the easy out and it will grab the plastic when you turn it out. Hope this helps.
Jeff Welte
Rockford, IL
Grandview Trailer Sa
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
I too, thought of an easy-out. But since the plug is hollow, it would take a large one and I did not know what size or if the wall is thick enough. Being plastic, the easy-out will dig in.
I too, thought of an easy-out. But since the plug is hollow, it would take a large one and I did not know what size or if the wall is thick enough. Being plastic, the easy-out will dig in.
Kirk
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
Grandview
Have you ever run across the brass plug that Atwood has with a T handle on it? I was just told about it by a friend who bought one and it is in an Atwood package. I would think that it would be a big imporvement over the hollow plastic ones?
Papaw2812,
I just had that same problem with mine about a month ago. I got is out in exactly the way that Grandview suggests, excpet that once I had a slot in each side I found a putty knife with a rounded end that would fit tightly into the slotted plug and managed to turn it in that way. I got most of it and then picked out the rest. I talked with a tech at Stinnette RV in Louisville and he says I should use a new plug each year when I drain and flush it.
Grandview
Have you ever run across the brass plug that Atwood has with a T handle on it? I was just told about it by a friend who bought one and it is in an Atwood package. I would think that it would be a big imporvement over the hollow plastic ones?
Papaw2812,
I just had that same problem with mine about a month ago. I got is out in exactly the way that Grandview suggests, excpet that once I had a slot in each side I found a putty knife with a rounded end that would fit tightly into the slotted plug and managed to turn it in that way. I got most of it and then picked out the rest. I talked with a tech at Stinnette RV in Louisville and he says I should use a new plug each year when I drain and flush it.
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
Grandview, What I do is when I replace it with brass, I start with a brass bushing and then put in an auto radiator petcock and it makes it easy to drain. Also if you get the petcock with the little tube extention, you can put a plastic hose over the end to drain it clear of the RV.
Grandview, What I do is when I replace it with brass, I start with a brass bushing and then put in an auto radiator petcock and it makes it easy to drain. Also if you get the petcock with the little tube extention, you can put a plastic hose over the end to drain it clear of the RV.
Grandview Trailer Sa
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
I have seen a lot with the radiator petcocks, but I will look into the part from Atwood. I have not seen that.
I have seen a lot with the radiator petcocks, but I will look into the part from Atwood. I have not seen that.
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
I bought a trailer that the previous owner had replaced the plug with a ball valve.The problem is the aluminum Atwood tank reacted with the dissimilar metal and galvanic corrosion made some holes in the tank.I had them welded and replaced the metal valve with a cpvc adapter and cpvc ball valve.
BOB
I bought a trailer that the previous owner had replaced the plug with a ball valve.The problem is the aluminum Atwood tank reacted with the dissimilar metal and galvanic corrosion made some holes in the tank.I had them welded and replaced the metal valve with a cpvc adapter and cpvc ball valve.
BOB
Grandview Trailer Sa
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
Yes, that is why Suburban uses an Anode Rod. That is a rod that attracts the chemicals that would attack the aluminum tank. You replace this rod usually each year. There is a rod for Atwood, but it is only aftermarket.
Was your ball valve brass? I would not think brass would cause a problem.
Yes, that is why Suburban uses an Anode Rod. That is a rod that attracts the chemicals that would attack the aluminum tank. You replace this rod usually each year. There is a rod for Atwood, but it is only aftermarket.
Was your ball valve brass? I would not think brass would cause a problem.
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
The nipple and valve were stainless.Rather than take a chance I used cpvc which is potable water grade.It is also rated for hot water.I don't know where brass and aluminum are on the galvanic scale but iny difference can eventually be a problem.
BOB
The nipple and valve were stainless.Rather than take a chance I used cpvc which is potable water grade.It is also rated for hot water.I don't know where brass and aluminum are on the galvanic scale but iny difference can eventually be a problem.
BOB
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
I just went to google and typed in galvanic scale.Aluminum is at the low end just after zinc and brass is at the other end just past stainless.That means when water is added the brass starts eating at the aluminum.That is not a good thing. :disapprove:
BOB
I just went to google and typed in galvanic scale.Aluminum is at the low end just after zinc and brass is at the other end just past stainless.That means when water is added the brass starts eating at the aluminum.That is not a good thing. :disapprove:
BOB
Grandview Trailer Sa
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
I am surprised at your findings. Most fittings in an RV are, if not plastic, brass. That includes the brass nipple at the water heater where everybody runs the plastic pipes to. I have installed lots of by-pass kits and all those valves are brass. Having worked in a machine shop for 20 years, I know about dissimilar metals, but I have not seen a problem with brass at the water heater.
I am surprised at your findings. Most fittings in an RV are, if not plastic, brass. That includes the brass nipple at the water heater where everybody runs the plastic pipes to. I have installed lots of by-pass kits and all those valves are brass. Having worked in a machine shop for 20 years, I know about dissimilar metals, but I have not seen a problem with brass at the water heater.
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
It's possible that brass is OK.It is also possible something else caused the holes in my tank.The trailer was used and I don't know how long the valve was in.I do know there were leaks in the weld holding the adapter that the nipple was threaded into.I didn't reinstall the stainless fittings.
BOB
It's possible that brass is OK.It is also possible something else caused the holes in my tank.The trailer was used and I don't know how long the valve was in.I do know there were leaks in the weld holding the adapter that the nipple was threaded into.I didn't reinstall the stainless fittings.
BOB
Kirk
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
I was told in a seminar that brass is OK with the aluminum tank of an Atwood water heater, but not to use an anode in one. Suburban uses a steel tank and that is the reason for the anode use with it. Atwood says that the anodes will make corrosion worse on their aluminum tank but that they do not need any anode as long as you use the plastic drain plugs or, brass ones.
I has a water heater that had one of the brass petcocks installed in it and it was OK for draining when we were week-enders, but it was a pain to remove when it was time to flush out the water heater. I would not use one now that we are fulltime because I only remove the drain plug when it is time to flush. I don't think that the petcock would allow the minerals to drain out, and I also use a white vinigar flush once each year as well as one of the flush wands that you put into the water heater through the drain hole. It is amazing what all you get out by doing that, at least when fulltime!
On the brass plug with handle, I sent an email to Atwood via the "contact us" on the website, but it has been more than a month and no response!
I was told in a seminar that brass is OK with the aluminum tank of an Atwood water heater, but not to use an anode in one. Suburban uses a steel tank and that is the reason for the anode use with it. Atwood says that the anodes will make corrosion worse on their aluminum tank but that they do not need any anode as long as you use the plastic drain plugs or, brass ones.
I has a water heater that had one of the brass petcocks installed in it and it was OK for draining when we were week-enders, but it was a pain to remove when it was time to flush out the water heater. I would not use one now that we are fulltime because I only remove the drain plug when it is time to flush. I don't think that the petcock would allow the minerals to drain out, and I also use a white vinigar flush once each year as well as one of the flush wands that you put into the water heater through the drain hole. It is amazing what all you get out by doing that, at least when fulltime!
On the brass plug with handle, I sent an email to Atwood via the "contact us" on the website, but it has been more than a month and no response!
Grandview Trailer Sa
Senior Member
Broken plastic drain plug on water heater
Kirk, sorry about the delay on the brass plug. We have been busy (thankfully) and I have not had time to check it out. I will be going to the Louisville RV dealer show next week and Suburban and Atwood will have displays and I can get the lowdown. I can get back to you then. You are absolutely right to flush and rinse with vinager once a year.
Kirk, sorry about the delay on the brass plug. We have been busy (thankfully) and I have not had time to check it out. I will be going to the Louisville RV dealer show next week and Suburban and Atwood will have displays and I can get the lowdown. I can get back to you then. You are absolutely right to flush and rinse with vinager once a year.