Hot water heater plug fails

April 22, 2011, 09:59:49 am

I was walking around the outside of the coach this morning and saw water on the ground under the "plumbing" bay. It appeared to be coming from around the drain plug on the hot water tank. When I tried to tighten it, the plug sheared off (I hardly had the wrench on it). This will be easy to fix IF I can get the rest of the plug out of the threaded hole. Any ideas? There must be a tool for this. Thanks in advance.

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #1 – April 22, 2011, 10:09:57 am

Any Lowes or Home Depot has a tool to remove broken sprinkler heads. They work.

Another technique on the Atwood plastic plugs is to heat a standard screwdriver that will just fit into the opening (if the plug weren't there). Heated, it will "melt in" to the plug and allow you to twist it out.

Replace the plugs every year when you drain the mineral sediment out of the tank.

Use teflon tape on the threads.

If there are mineral deposits on the threads, use vinegar and a toothbrush (never your own) to remove them.

Brett

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #2 – April 22, 2011, 10:18:22 am

Hi Brett,
Oh come on, a tough guy like you should be more brave! I always use my own toothbrush for this. No guts, no glory!

Jim Frerichs
retired dentist
2002 U320

Quote

If there are mineral deposits on the threads, use vinegar and a
toothbrush (never your own) to remove them.

Brett

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #3 – April 22, 2011, 11:02:51 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 22, 2011, 10:09:57 am

...and a toothbrush (never your own)

Quote from: Jim Frerichs – April 22, 2011, 10:18:22 am

...I always use my own toothbrush for this. No guts, no glory!J

YouTube - Seinfeld - Toothbrush in the Toilet

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #4 – April 22, 2011, 11:38:04 am

Quote from: Jim Frerichs – April 22, 2011, 10:18:22 am

Hi Brett,
Oh come on, a tough guy like you should be more brave! I always use my own toothbrush for this. No guts, no glory!

Jim Frerichs
retired dentist
2002 U320
Quote
If there are mineral deposits on the threads, use vinegar and a
toothbrush (never your own) to remove them.

Brett

Jim,

Sorry, my brother is a dentist as well (College Station, TX). It was he who told me to ALWAYS use someone else's toothbrush. Sometimes you get caught, sometimes you don't.

Brett

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #5 – April 22, 2011, 01:13:39 pm

Quote from: Jim Frerichs – April 22, 2011, 10:18:22 am

Oh come on, a tough guy like you should be more brave! I always use my own toothbrush for this. No guts, no glory!

Jim Frerichs
retired dentist
Quote
If there are mineral deposits on the threads, use vinegar and a
toothbrush (never your own) to remove them.

Brett

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 22, 2011, 11:38:04 am

my brother is a dentist as well (College Station, TX). It was he who told me to ALWAYS use someone else's toothbrush. Sometimes you get caught, sometimes you don't.

Brett

Note to Pat - hide your toothbrush from George

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #6 – April 22, 2011, 01:47:42 pm

Fixed! Thanks for all the input. I did go to Home Depot for one of those tools (see below). While I was gone, Pat soaked the broken plug with wine vinegar every 10 minutes or so. The tool didn't actually remove the plug, but it did scrape it down a bit and that made it easier to get an edge with a small screw driver and pull it out. I think the vinegar did more to get it loose than anything else.

I will change these yearly from now on....didn't think they wore out, but obviously they do (see below). One of the photos below shows the water coming out before I tried to tighten the plug.

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #7 – April 22, 2011, 01:58:46 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – April 22, 2011, 01:47:42 pm

... soaked the broken plug with wine vinegar every 10 minutes or so.... I think the vinegar did more to get it loose than anything else.

wine vinegar... hmmm... like duct tape and WD-40... some things you just don't travel without!

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #8 – April 22, 2011, 06:23:44 pm

George,

You will totally spoil it with wine vinegar. Cheap white vinegar is all it "deserves".

Brett

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #9 – April 22, 2011, 06:42:52 pm

George
I replaced the plastic plug with a Anode rod from Camping world, it helps keep inside of tank clean and extend tank life. Costs approx. $10.00 /$15.00

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #10 – April 22, 2011, 07:02:01 pm

Rick... great idea. I will give it a try.

Brett.... Pat will not allow lowly acetic acid 5% in (or on) our motor home!

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #11 – April 22, 2011, 08:59:18 pm

Quote from: Rick Zika – April 22, 2011, 06:42:52 pm

George
I replaced the plastic plug with a Anode rod from Camping world, it helps keep inside of tank clean and extend tank life. Costs approx. $10.00 /$15.00

Actually, Atwood does NOT recommend the use of any anode in their water heater. If they did, they would sell one and reap the profits-- they do not.

Brett

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #12 – April 22, 2011, 10:43:58 pm

I thought since Atwood propane hot water tanks are made of aluminum and don't rust, they do not need a sacrificial anode

Suburban propane hot water tanks are made of enameled steel and can corrode, so they use an anode that self-destructs to protect the tank.

"What is an Anode Rod ?
It is a magnesium or aluminum rod inserted in the heater, from the top, in an opening of its own or as part of the outlet nipple. The metal is self-sacrificing (corrodes); this protects the tank and elements from corroding.
Replacement anode rods are available and easy to install."

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #13 – April 24, 2011, 09:02:35 am

Twisted humor (or the voice of experience?)...To not get caught after I've used it, it's quite difficult to get someone else's toothbrush dry again.
Jim

Quote

Quote

On: Fri Apr 22, 2011 Jim Frerichs Wrote: Oh come on, a tough guy like you should be more brave! I always use my own toothbrush for this. No guts, no glory!

Jim Frerichs
retired dentist
Quote

If there are mineral deposits on the threads, use vinegar and a
toothbrush (never your own) to remove them.

Brett

Quote

Quote

On: Fri Apr 22, 2011 wolfe10 Wrote: my brother is a dentist as well (College Station, TX). It was he who told me to ALWAYS use someone else's toothbrush. Sometimes you get caught, sometimes you don't.
Brett

Note to Pat - hide your toothbrush from George

'03 U320 40' coach 6106
'03 Honda CR-V
and the Posse

Re: Hot water heater plug fails

Reply #14 – April 25, 2011, 11:50:52 am

Quote

Actually, Atwood does NOT recommend the use of any anode in their water heater. If they did, they would sell one and reap the profits-- they do not.

Maybe they just want to sell you a new water rather than inexpensive anode! (the voice of cyncism)
Actually aluminum is just slightly more noble than zinc on the Galvanic Corrosion chart - so it will do very little.

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