DIY & Home Improvement

SHRED

(28,136 posts) Tue Dec 13, 2011, 12:55 AM Dec 2011

Improving your water heater drain

It was tricky but I replaced the plastic drain faucet that no longer worked. The faucet would not let any water out. Now I flush it on a regular basis. Comes in real handy for quick access to hot mop water.

OLD

NEW

And this is some calcified crystals I flushed out:

Fortunately the valve did not break off (they can and often do!). I had a wood plug I carved from a broom handle ready to drive in to stop the water if it did.

Just a successful DIY improvement I wanted to share that will increase the water heater's life.

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4 replies

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Highlight:

Improving your water heater drain (Original Post) SHRED Dec 2011 OP

A job well done. Don't you love it when it all goes according to plan? canoeist52 Dec 2011 #1

I do SHRED Dec 2011 #2

Looks like it worked well.. pipoman Dec 2011 #3

Thanks for additional safety reminders SHRED Dec 2011 #4

canoeist52

(2,282 posts)

1. A job well done. Don't you love it when it all goes according to plan?

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Wed Dec 14, 2011, 01:02 AM

Dec 2011

When a turn-off needs replacing, we like those lever faucet handles too.

SHRED

(28,136 posts)

2. I do

Reply to canoeist52 (Reply #1)

Wed Dec 14, 2011, 01:45 AM

Dec 2011

If that plastic faucet broke off in the threads then I would've gone with Plan B.
Since it was full of water, Plan B was to emergency plug the hole with wood plug. Then have buckets ready to fill up with help from a few friends to chain-gang carry the water out the garage (no sink in garage).

I did have the top valves closed (cold and hot) and noticed that with the faucet removed the vacuum created did not let much water out. This gave me plenty of time to start the threads on my pre-assembled brass valve (with thread tape of course).

pipoman

(16,038 posts)

3. Looks like it worked well..

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Thu Dec 15, 2011, 08:07 AM

Dec 2011

the plastic hose bib probably didn't have a large enough orifice to let some of that stuff out. I would only add to be sure to turn your heater off before draining, and wait for it to refill before relighting.

SHRED

(28,136 posts)

4. Thanks for additional safety reminders

Reply to pipoman (Reply #3)

Thu Dec 15, 2011, 11:37 AM

Dec 2011

And yes, that plastic drain caught those calcified chunks and would not let out any water after awhile. That is what inspired me to change it.

I would encourage anyone wanting to try this to search the internet for step-by-step instructions.

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