Removing Water Heater Plug

[LegalBeagle]

Is there some special tool for removing the plastic (nylon) water heater plug? It's almost impossible to reach with a crescent wrench large enough to remove it and I hate to chew it up with a pair of pliers. Mine is stuck tight enough it doesn't want to come out, and I need something like a spark plug wrench to slip over it and twist it out. Any ideas?

[Siamese]

Yeah, something like a spark plug wrench. On my 26BH it's a little tough to get at, but I'm able to get at it with a socket and extension on a ratchet. Just have to push a couple of wires out of the way a little.

I helped a friend winterize his motorhome recently, and noticed that the PO of his motorhome had replaced the nylon drain plug with a sort of a little faucet. Allows draining of the tank without any tools. One of these days I'm going to do a search on the net and see if I can find one.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

Is there some special tool for removing the plastic (nylon) water heater plug? It's almost impossible to reach with a crescent wrench large enough to remove it and I hate to chew it up with a pair of pliers. Mine is stuck tight enough it doesn't want to come out, and I need something like a spark plug wrench to slip over it and twist it out. Any ideas?

I use a basin wrench...no issues. Hand tighten when putting it back in than tighten with the basin wrench.

Good Luck.

[Siamese]

One of these might be handy:

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...%20and%20Parts

[LuckyDuck]

I use this — socket wrench with a short extension. Perfect fit.

[Rustic Eagle]

This is what I ended up doing:



Ideally stay with a plastic fastener (or plug) when making a connection to the 'aluminum' tank's threads.

Bob

[Duke4857]

I use a crows foot wrench, 1" or 15/16" fit mine. do not remember what one.

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-1-in...yABEgLXSPD_BwE

[GrumpyDad]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

I use this — socket wrench with a short extension. Perfect fit.

That's what I do as well. The extension clears the gas tube better, and that gas tube wiggles a little anyway.
I have socket u-joints at home, but don't carry them in the trailer, although they would work too.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

Is there some special tool for removing the plastic (nylon) water heater plug? It's almost impossible to reach with a crescent wrench large enough to remove it and I hate to chew it up with a pair of pliers. Mine is stuck tight enough it doesn't want to come out, and I need something like a spark plug wrench to slip over it and twist it out. Any ideas?

I use a 15/16" combination open end/box wrench. It's a long wrench so has enough leverage to loosen and tighten the plug.
I tighten and loosen using the box end so the corners don't get rounded and the open end when it's not as hard to turn. It's close quarters in there so it's not a fast process.

[norty1]

I carry a 4 way lug wrench. One of them will fit that plug.

Now days, I carry a deep socket- extension-ratchet in the hatch next to the wh. and have a anode rod on my wh that's metal.


Hand start it cause if it cross threads its gone. Carry spares.

[2nOZ]

I use an open end/ flex head 15/16 ratchet wrench. Slips right over the plug and makes quick work.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by Siamese

One of these might be handy:

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...%20and%20Parts

The problem with a valve on the plug is, part of the reason to drain the tank is to flush out the sediment which collects in the bottom of the tank. The valve doesn't allow you to do that. I remove the plug and than flush to wash the gunk (technical term) out.

Good Luck.

[MrJackSprat]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

This is what I ended up doing:



Ideally stay with a plastic fastener (or plug) when making a connection to the 'aluminum' tank's threads.

Bob

Yep, we just did exactly that.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by norty1

snip...
Hand start it cause if it cross threads its gone. Carry spares.

^^^^ what norty1 said!

[Dentac6467]

R.E.
What did you use from the hot water tank to the hose extension ?
Thanking you in advance.

[Dentac6467]

R.E.
What type of connection did you use from the hot water tank to the hose extension with the valve ?
Thanking you in advance .

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

This is what I ended up doing:



Ideally stay with a plastic fastener (or plug) when making a connection to the 'aluminum' tank's threads.

Bob

How do you flush the tank, which should be done annualy with one of these?

[denn888]

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

Is there some special tool for removing the plastic (nylon) water heater plug? It's almost impossible to reach with a crescent wrench large enough to remove it and I hate to chew it up with a pair of pliers. Mine is stuck tight enough it doesn't want to come out, and I need something like a spark plug wrench to slip over it and twist it out. Any ideas?

I plan on doing Rustic Eagles mod in the future but in the meantime, if you don’t have a ratchet and socket it’s not that hard to remove the heatshield just above the drain plug and get a wrench in there ...and yes buy an extra drain plug just in case....Good Luck

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

How do you flush the tank, which should be done annualy with one of these?

I still flush my tank annually by simply removing the stainless steel flex line at the tank and flush away with the same tool in your pic.

My TT is in-and-out of storage often during the spring/summer/fall months and I drain the HWH tank after each camping trip....., thus my drain mod makes this frequent task easy.

Bob

[MrJackSprat]

Originally Posted by Dentac6467

R.E.
What type of connection did you use from the hot water tank to the hose extension with the valve ?
Thanking you in advance .

We used a double threaded PVC connector from tank to hose. Take your existing plug to your local hardware store to confirm threading. Hose & valve were in bathroom fixtures isle.