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Old 12-16-2012, 06:43 PM   #1
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Drain Valve Options - Atwood Water Heater

I have an Atwood water heater in my FE 292BHDS. The drain valve on the water heater is a plastic type drain plug that is )1 nearly impossible to get to and 2) appears o be garbage. There is also not an anode.

Does anyone else have issues with their drain plug.

Is there a better solution than this plastic plug that is nearly impossible to get to??

Thanks in advance.
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Old 12-16-2012, 08:01 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burati1 View Post
I have an Atwood water heater in my FE 292BHDS. The drain valve on the water heater is a plastic type drain plug that is )1 nearly impossible to get to and 2) appears o be garbage. There is also not an anode.

Does anyone else have issues with their drain plug.

Is there a better solution than this plastic plug that is nearly impossible to get to??

Thanks in advance.
Some others can probably post more information, but I understand there is drain plug that is a combination plug and drain in one assembly.

If you could, I would like to see your nearly impossible to get to drain plug.
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Old 12-16-2012, 08:21 PM   #3
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The Atwood is an aluminum boiler and does NOT need an anode.

You may have to destroy the plastic plug getting it out but be careful you do not damage the aluminum threads (they are very soft).

Clean out what plastic is left on the threads and use a heavy dose of Teflon tape when you install the new drain plug.
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Old 12-16-2012, 10:28 PM   #4
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Thank you for the replies. I do not have pictures to post but will get some in the next week to post. I cannot seem to find a plug/ drain combo. Any ideas??
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Old 12-16-2012, 10:44 PM   #5
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Thank you for the replies. I do not have pictures to post but will get some in the next week to post. I cannot seem to find a plug/ drain combo. Any ideas??
Go to Camping World and search for "Water Heater Drain Valve"

Item # 55605 comes up and part of the text says you can drain your WH without using tools.

The ad says it is currently out of stock, but more are expected. It is on sale for $5.24.

I tried to paste it, but it has too many images.
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Old 12-16-2012, 11:18 PM   #6
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Cabela's: Attwood Drain Plugs

Seems everyone is selling these.
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Old 12-17-2012, 06:37 AM   #7
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Our old PUP had the same plastic drain plug and i replaced it with a piece of threaded copper and a heavy duty ball valve. It worked like a charm for the rest of the time we had the camper.
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Old 12-17-2012, 07:07 AM   #8
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Our old PUP had the same plastic drain plug and i replaced it with a piece of threaded copper and a heavy duty ball valve. It worked like a charm for the rest of the time we had the camper.
Ball valves come with on end threaded NPT and can go right in as well.
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Old 12-17-2012, 07:19 AM   #9
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Ball valves come with on end threaded NPT and can go right in as well.
That would work, I had to have a short piece of pipe due to space restrictions and having to be able to spin it to tighten. YRMV.
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Old 12-17-2012, 07:40 AM   #10
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That would work, I had to have a short piece of pipe due to space restrictions and having to be able to spin it to tighten. YRMV.
No way it would work with my Suburban (even if I did not need an anode) either.
That handle would just get in the way when turning. How did you solve the door being in the way?
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Old 12-17-2012, 07:49 AM   #11
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No way it would work with my Suburban (even if I did not need an anode) either.
That handle would just get in the way when turning. How did you solve the door being in the way?
I used the smallest valve possible with a plastic twist handle. I removed the handle for installation and reinstalled it afterwards. Not sure what you mean by the door being in the way, I used pipe just long enough to turn and install the valve and still be able to shut the door.
Of course all this was done back when we were pulling a pop up with a minivan and draining the water heater after every trip to save weight. The camper we have now has the anode rod and we leave it full of water the whole camping season.
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Old 12-17-2012, 08:04 AM   #12
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I used the smallest valve possible with a plastic twist handle. I removed the handle for installation and reinstalled it afterwards. Not sure what you mean by the door being in the way, I used pipe just long enough to turn and install the valve and still be able to shut the door.
Of course all this was done back when we were pulling a pop up with a minivan and draining the water heater after every trip to save weight. The camper we have now has the anode rod and we leave it full of water the whole camping season.
Just trying to picture in my mind how little distance there is in my Suburban water heater between the drain hole and the door. There would not be very much room for a ball type valve of any kind.
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Old 12-17-2012, 08:23 AM   #13
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I have an Atwood water. The plug is easy to get out using a socket on a 6" extention. Just slide socket, on extention under gas line onto plug. Give plug a rap or two with teflon tape to prevent leaking. I keep extre plugs in my box just in case.
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Old 12-17-2012, 08:46 AM   #14
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[QUOTE=herk7769;283281]Ball valves come with on end threaded NPT and can go right in as well.
Do (NOT) buy this 3/4 inch valve,Atwood (6 & 10) gal. units use a 1/2 NPT thread on the Drain! Youroo!!
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Old 12-17-2012, 09:00 AM   #15
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Wow!! Thank you all so much for the information and ideas! Being new to camping in a Travel Trailer I am finding this board to be a wealth of information and collaboration. Again, thank you all very much!!
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Old 12-17-2012, 06:24 PM   #16
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If you reduce the drain opening(Which is what you are doing by placing any kind of valve or Gizmo in the outlet)! This restriction will keep most of the (White Crap) as well as scale and other flakes of unknown origin in the tank,to later show up in the kitchen faucet,bathroom faucet,and outside shower. Yes the valves will drain the water,but leave behind (Crud)! There is no filter on the output side of the water heater. This applys to both makes of heaters Atwood & Suburban. Youroo!!
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Old 12-17-2012, 06:57 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by youroo View Post
Do (NOT) buy this valve,Atwood (6 & 10) gal. units use a 1/2 NPT thread on the Drain! Youroo!!
Whoops! Not owning one I was just looking for an example of a threaded valve.
I will fix my link.
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