How To Avoid Leaking Water
Heater Problems
Many water heaters come with a
drain valve that has a cone shaped
handle. They spell trouble. Other
makers of water heaters have a
plastic faucet type drain valve.
This type of drain valve is prone to
breaks and leaks. The better types
are the brass hose bib, not unlike
the average garden hose bib. Even
better would be brass ball valve.
This type of drain valve would have
a lever that can either be open or
shut. The brass ball valve allows
the most effective flushing of the
water heater.
On most residential
water heaters a 3/4 inch brass
gate valve can be installed. Ball
valves allow the largest opening for
drain valves which gives you the
best flushing of the inside of the
drain valve. Shutting off a ball
valve is as easy as moving the lever
90 degrees. A hose bib has to be
turned around and around. Also know
that an adapter piece must be
installed that goes from 3/4 pipe
thread to 3/4 hose thread will be
needed. Now you have the brass ball
valve which is the least likely to
clog of all the drain valves. If the
brass ball valve cannot be
installed, the second best is a
brass hose bib. Plastic cone valves
and plastic faucet valves drip,
freeze inside, and clog with
sediment the easiest. Plastic
threads are very easy to cross when
you wish to attach a garden hose to
the drain valve. Even after opening
a plastic valve one time, using it
and closing it back up, the valve
may drip. To remove the plastic cone
valve, unscrew it from the water
heater by turning it
counterclockwise while pulling it
out. Six turns will probably be
sufficient. Then turn clockwise and
keep pulling. Wrap teflon tape
around the protruding nipple. Now
install the brass ball valve. In
order to avoid being sprayed with
water while installing the new drain
valve, first cut off the water
supply at the cold water inlet near
the top of the water heater. It is
the pipe on the right side as you
are facing it. Now open a hot water
tap somewhere inside the house; any
sink will do. Make sure the hot
water tap is closed once water stops
flowing through. That'll keep any
air from entering the lines.This
relieves pressure off the lines and
will allow the drain valve to be
replaced without emptying the water
heater. Make sure nobody is using
any water while you are replacing
the drain valve. Also turn the gas
to pilot or pull the electrical plug
if electric.
A pint of water or less may come out
of the water heater after all the
preparation has taken place. Avoid
being scalded by running a tap in
the house for five minutes before
beginning this entire procedure. The
cold water entering the water heater
will lower the temperature inside.
Be prepared to begin the procedure
quickly right after though.
Remember, adding a brass gate valve
can be used to flush the water
heater and keep it clean of
sediment. A sediment free water
heater produces hot showers.
About the Author
Allen David has been a
plumbing contractor for 13 years
and also writes water heater reviews
on tankless water heaters and more
for the Water Heater Info website.
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