[Shop-talk] Water heater drain help

[Scott Hall]

The fitting into the tank itself has a hex on it, but it's made of plastic
too and I'm honestly not sure I have the stones to attack it with a wrench.
Should I?
On Sep 13, 2015 10:54 AM, "old dirtbeard" <dirtbeard at pacbell.net> wrote:

> Hi Scott,
>
> I did something similar, entirely removed the valve and plumbed-in a 3/4"
> pipe into the tank and just used a standard full ball valve.  I am
> attaching the picture here, but it probably will not post to the list.
>
> I think tanks generally use standard NPT pipe threads.  Maybe a taper?
>
> best,
>
> doug
>
> los angeles
> ________________
> '72 BSA B50SS
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Scott Hall <scott.hall.personal at gmail.com>
> *To:* "Shop-talk at autox.team.net" <Shop-talk at autox.team.net>
> *Sent:* Sunday, September 13, 2015 7:12 AM
> *Subject:* [Shop-talk] Water heater drain help
>
> Guys,
>
> Got new water heater for house. Want to replace existing drain arrangement
> with ball valve for better draining.
>
> The fitting into the tank I think is probably not replaceable. But I could
> replace the plastic plug and screw a fitting/ball valve into it. It looks
> like this:
>
> http://imgur.com/wn4DPQg
>
> But I'm not sure what that thread is. It's not NPT--it seems to be about
> twice as coarse as NPT.
>
> I tried a 1/2" NPT spigot iftting I has here and it screws in, but it looks
> like it might be cutting its own threads into the fitting on the tank,
> which I think is Bad.
>
> Anyone familiar with what that thread might be?
>
> The plug's plastic so it won't rust, but it looks like it's just asking to
> have those tiny holes clogs, or for the whole plastic plug to embrittle and
> break. A nice ball valve with a big handle on it would be preferable.
>
> Scott
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