hot water heater plug question

[thompson]

My hot water heater started leaking like a sieve. Noticed it only because the water pump, that is right under my bed, started going on every few minutes one night. Water was leaking all around a white plastic plug that was in it. The plug itself wasn't cracked but the putty stuff all around it was. Put a metal one in with teflon tape around it instead of the putty stuff and that stopped the leaking. But now I'm wondering, was the plug a plastic one for a reason? Is it okay to use metal? Thanks!
Auntie Em and her Totos

[admin]

Aunti Em,

I assume your water heater is an Atwood brand- The atwood uses an aluminum tank and yes the plug should be plastic one - actually it's nylon.

A steel plug will react with the aluminum tank over time an may become very hard to remove.

[thompson]

Les...with all the info I usually put in a question I just can't believe I left out the fact that it was an Atwood! Go figure! Anywho...yes it is. So you'd recommend removing that metal plug and reinstalling the nylon one using the teflon tape then, huh? Thanks.
Auntie Em

[admin]

In a word ... yep

[meccem]

To use a metal plug in your Atwood water heater its best to use brass
that could set into the drain for ever and never rust or corrode.
The atwood needs an anode why not replace the other metal plug with
an zinc anode that comes in a brass bushing and a drain petcock,
Atwoods need anodes too, their tank is alumimun and the anode for the suburban water heaters are alumimun, its to bad the tank is nothing but an anode, I love my zinc drainable anode very long lasting been two years and not ready yet
meccem

[Dave T]

Auntie Em

Just for your info. We are full timers and use our hot water tank frequently. I did have an aluminum plug and as Les states I had to drill and then cut the plug out consequentially ruining the threads in the tank. Had to load it with teflon to make it work when I put in a vinyl plug in.
Also I have never had a anode in my tank to my knowledge and it is an Atwood. Not sure if this is necessary or not. Been at it for 9 years or so. Good luck

[thompson]

Thanks both of you! We've been having really funky weather lately so I haven't done anything with it yet. Had a heck of an ice and snow storm in the midwest on the first day of spring no less! If it ever warms up at the same time that it is not blowing 40 mph wind gusts and is halfway dry at the same time I just may manage to get something done outside around here. Guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope the plug doesn't 'freeze' into place in the meantime.
Auntie Em and her Totos