Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Water heater drain plug (Read 384 times) previous topic - next topic

Water heater drain plug

Will Teflon tape seal the nylon drain plug adequately or do I need some kind of pipe dope?
Michael & Roxene, Aussie the wonder dog & his daughter Luna the lunatic.
1993 Grand Villa Unihome 280 build #4203
36' 8.3 Cummins 300 hp- 2001 Chevrolet Tracker toad

Re: Water heater drain plug

Reply #1 –
I always use 2.5 wraps of teflon tape.  As with any tape application make sure that the tape does not go all the way to the end of the threads-- you don't want any breaking off in the water heater.

Replace the nylon Atwood plug annually.

If the plug breaks when trying to remove it, the sprinkler head remover from any box store works well.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Water heater drain plug

Reply #2 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Replace the nylon Atwood plug annually.
And I would add, do NOT be tempted to use a metal plug.  I have run across plugs made of brass, steel, and some kind of pot metal.  A metal plug will be subject to electrolysis due to dissimilar metals, and can "weld" itself to the aluminum water tank threads, making it very difficult to remove.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Water heater drain plug

Reply #3 –
Gave up on relying on Teflon tape for thread seal, long ago. Like to use Permatex Thread Sealant tube, which is what we used on nylon drain plug for our twice a year hot water tank flush. Always have a spare nylon drain plug.

Re: Water heater drain plug

Reply #4 –
I used a brass plug with pipe dope then I found that the white plastic pipe plugs work without dope or tape. Later I canned the plug idea altogether and went with an electric heating element.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Water heater drain plug

Reply #5 –
FWIW, If you use tape, a good quality PTFE tape is Blue Monster™ PTFE Thread Seal Tape  and for most, one role will last a long time.

I had always used those small roles of white tape in the blue sided dispenser you see everywhere,  but they seem to have been cost optimized (pre-stretched and extra thin).  I've seen the above at HD, I got mine at a plumbing supply store.  It was the plumber who installed our hot water heater who turned me on to this brand.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Water heater drain plug

Reply #6 –
Agree with Steve to only use high quality branded thicker Teflon tape. Never use blue/white generic. For similar reasons, we also only use Scotch Super 88 electrical tape which is .008", thicker than all others. We never use generic electric tape. Also never pull Teflon or electric tape like many do, to disconnect a piece from the roll. We cut with scissors.