Atwood LP Gas Water Heater - Drain Plug

[herons]

Two questions about the 6 gallon gas/electric Atwood water heater drain plugs:


Why are they plastic and is there a metal replacement option? If not, why not? (The plastic plug threads are easy to cross-thread and therefore need 1-2 year seasonal replacement.)


Should I be using Teflon tape when reinstalling the plastic plugs?



Replacing the drain plug each spring after winterization is the chore I most love to hate. Atwood's design is the worst!

[John in Santa Cruz]

only drain I've seen on my RV water heaters is the anode rode, which is magnesium or something on an alloy plug/screw.

[thrifty bill]

Atwood water tank is typically aluminum so no anode required. Yes, I use teflon tape on plastic fittings. Have to worry about corrosion if you use brass or some other metal. Check carefully before going down that route.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by herons

Two questions about the 6 gallon gas/electric Atwood water heater drain plugs:


Why are they plastic and is there a metal replacement option? If not, why not? (The plastic plug threads are easy to cross-thread and therefore need 1-2 year seasonal replacement.)


Should I be using Teflon tape when reinstalling the plastic plugs?



Replacing the drain plug each spring after winterization is the chore I most love to hate. Atwood's design is the worst!

We put a brass fitting with a cock valve in it to drain the hot water heater. We put Teflon tape on it so it wouldn't corrode. Make sure all threads are covered so the brass doesn't touch the tank threads. That is where you get the corrosion from. We got tired of leaking plastic drain plugs that cross threaded also. When we use the tank we drain it after every trip with the cock valve and at the end of the season we take out the entire setup and wash the tank out with a special nozzle designed for that. There is always some crude in the tank when we wash it out. Then put the setup back in and we're good for the spring. Or you can leave the setup out and wash tank in the spring to make sure there is no antifreeze in it if you winterize which we must do. We bypass the tank when winterizing but like to make sure nothing got into the tank anyway.

[Mike_L]

The water heater usually comes with a plastic drain plug, I assume because they are cheap and they don't corrode and seize.

They shouldn't cross thread if carefully put in. They should go in easily if properly threaded into the port in the water tank. If not, they are cross threaded or are damaged due to previous cross threading.

Sometimes the plastic threads strip, usually because they are put in too tightly.

Teflon tape helps them to seal better and prevent leaks. After installing the teflon tape (counterclockwise) on the plug, screw it in hand tight. Fill the tank and check for leaks. If you have a leak, tighten the plug gently, about a quarter turn and see if the leak stops. After the leak stops, tighten another quarter turn.
You can replace the plastic plug with a metal anode. Some of these anodes have a built in drain cock which can be opened to drain the water tank without removing them.
Anodes should also be installed with teflon tape for a better seal and to facilitate removal.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

The water heater usually comes with a plastic drain plug, I assume because they are cheap and they don't corrode and seize.

They shouldn't cross thread if carefully put in. They should go in easily if properly threaded into the port in the water tank. If not, they are cross threaded or are damaged due to previous cross threading.

Sometimes the plastic threads strip, usually because they are put in too tightly.

Teflon tape helps them to seal better and prevent leaks. After installing the teflon tape (counterclockwise) on the plug, screw it in hand tight. Fill the tank and check for leaks. If you have a leak, tighten the plug gently, about a quarter turn and see if the leak stops. After the leak stops, tighten another quarter turn.
You can replace the plastic plug with a metal anode. Some of these anodes have a built in drain cock which can be opened to drain the water tank without removing them.
Anodes should also be installed with teflon tape for a better seal and to facilitate removal.

We have never seen an anode rod with a drain cock in 38 years. The anode rod takes up the entire opening to the tank drain plug spot. If you know of one please let us know where to buy it.

[Mike_L]

Hi Jann,
These anodes are available at most RV dealerships for about $10. They are about 6 - 8 inches long and fit into the hole where the plastic plug was originally installed. The one I purchased is perforated around the base just past the threaded part that screws into the tank. The end that protrudes from the tank has a stopcock, similar to those used in the base of a radiator. The stopcock can be opened to drain the tank. I'd post a picture if my trailer wasn't in storage.

[thrifty bill]

No anode for an Atwood WH

[ZachO]

That's what I heard the last time I paid attention to a water heater thread. I realized my tank didn't have an anode, that I could buy one for it, but that it was not necessary.

I've been good with the plastic plug. I'm careful not to cross-thread (which is always the rule for anything with threads), and use teflon tape. Mine doesn't leak. My camper is a 91 and so far as I can tell everything is original, though I think it wasn't used much. Either way, the plastic plug looked old when I bought the camper, and I've used my trailer for three seasons. So far the plug is holding up!

[herons]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

The water heater usually comes with a plastic drain plug, I assume because they are cheap and they don't corrode and seize.

They shouldn't cross thread if carefully put in. They should go in easily if properly threaded into the port in the water tank. If not, they are cross threaded or are damaged due to previous cross threading.

Sometimes the plastic threads strip, usually because they are put in too tightly.

Teflon tape helps them to seal better and prevent leaks. After installing the teflon tape (counterclockwise) on the plug, screw it in hand tight. Fill the tank and check for leaks. If you have a leak, tighten the plug gently, about a quarter turn and see if the leak stops. After the leak stops, tighten another quarter turn.
You can replace the plastic plug with a metal anode. Some of these anodes have a built in drain cock which can be opened to drain the water tank without removing them.
Anodes should also be installed with teflon tape for a better seal and to facilitate removal.

Thanks, Mike. Good advice.

[Doug Arthurs]

I replaced mine with a drain valve as well. I drain it after each trip.

[herons]

I don't think there is sufficient space in the Atwood WH for a drain valve. It would be a good solution, though.

[Joe MacDonald]

I just installed a new 6 gallon atwood tank, i bushed the drain to 1/2 inch and put in a 90 degree tap, works like a charm, I'll post a pic when I can get one
Joe

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Hi Jann,
These anodes are available at most RV dealerships for about $10. They are about 6 - 8 inches long and fit into the hole where the plastic plug was originally installed. The one I purchased is perforated around the base just past the threaded part that screws into the tank. The end that protrudes from the tank has a stopcock, similar to those used in the base of a radiator. The stopcock can be opened to drain the tank. I'd post a picture if my trailer wasn't in storage.

Googled them and found them. Thank you. This will be a purchase we make for the Casita. We hate taking the anode out all the time. It's a pain to get it in straight in the tight quarters. We put a drain plug in our motorhome with a drain cock since it doesn't need an anode rod.

[computerspook]

I had to replace my water heater. The drain plugged and by the time I fixed that it had frozen. :-( Probably just as well it was literally wearing out. The way it had been mounted the tank was rubbing on the fender and had worn through enough for a small leak.

The new one did have a plastic drain plug. I replaced it with a brass one. Yeah with tape.