Mods so far

[Brownie]

Jeremy & Tim,

I had been told differently, but that info may have been wrong. Thanks for the clarification.

[Owen Stubbs]

Thanks all for the input. I also did not want to use a brass nipple. Instinct told me that since the original drain plug was nylon, to use the same material. I found some at a local supply house. Unfortunately, I had to buy a bag of 10 of them!!! But the price was right, and driving all over town would cost more than just being done with it. I used teflon tape on all threads. I like this mod - I really don't like water sitting in my tank for what could be weeks, and the quarter turn valve is a lot easier to open than removing the original plug.

[Brownjm]

Owen, Nice job...I am going to love the fact that I did this mod. BTW it looks like your braided hose is cross-threaded in photo 3 or maybe its just one to many Labatt Blues !

[Owen Stubbs]

Originally Posted by Brownjm

Owen, Nice job...I am going to love the fact that I did this mod. BTW it looks like your braided hose is cross-threaded in photo 3 or maybe its just one to many Labatt Blues !

Thanks! Nah - its not cross threaded, just a strange camera angle. I threaded the hose onto the fitting, and snugged it up in my bench vice. Only after the entire assembly was complete did I then thread the nipple into the drain.

To everyone else - would anyone be interested in one of these fittings? I have 9 extra. I could pick up some bubble envelopes, and send them out for whatever it costs me to ship to anyone else who wants to do this mod with a nylon fitting.

[Polk]

I like your slide awning, I can get that corrugated plastic from work all the time. I thought about making tire covers or shades might be a better term out of it also.

[Owen Stubbs]

In my original post above, I included a photo showing a 1/4 turn valve that used compression connections on both ends:


That particular valve leaked once the hot water tank achieves any pressure, either from city water connection, or heating the tank. I believe the cause is due to a groove in the ball portion of the valve that would not normally be exposed when the valve is installed normally. I am using this valve in reverse - using the smaller 3/8" as the input, rather than the 1/2" side.

I replaced it with a valve that is a sweat fitting on the normal supply side.




I still connected it to the 3/8" side, but the ball appears to be metal, does not have that groove, and does not seem to leak... at least, not in my limited test. Just thought I would mention the change in case anyone else plans to do this mod and was using my post as a "parts list".

[Tomsuver]

Great idea with the sewer hose and water heater. Love it thanks for the ideas