The drain valve on my 5 year old gas water heater is leaking from where it is attached to tank. Its a standard white plastic valve and I'm guessing the washer is no good. I've heard that there are ones made of brass or other metal and am wondering which is better and whether it would be worth paying more for.
Thanks!
COMMUNITY FORUM
It depends on how long your tank is warranted for. If the tank has a 5 year guarantee I wouldn't bother if it has a 10 year I would invest in it
From my personal experience the plastic drains are crap and the manufacturer should be forced to have their face placed under scalding water when they had the gall to send junk like this out to the general public.
I happen to like replacing this inferior product with a brass valve or better yet I use a brass nipple and an Apollo full port ball valve, much less chance of it getting blocked with sediment.
After becoming a certified low pressure boiler and unfired pressure vessel inspector I try to treat the H/W tanks as I would a boiler so proper drain (blow down) can be safely accomplished.
Depending on a plastic (globe pattern) valve with a little washer is not what I would call worth the money I spent on the tank.
I happen to like the idea when I open and then decide to close a valve that it will shut off.
This gives me peace of mind.
Of course your looking at possibly another $8.00 - $10.00 more if the manufacturer put it in the first place but this being America and most of these potential bombs are foreign made product liability become a mute point.
AO Smith had the following problems that cost me several hundred dollars out of pocket because they did not own up to doing the right thing
1- They had a major problem with dip tube failures that was brought to my attention by another manufacturer who was really concerned about the T&P being blocked by these plastic particles.
2- AO Smith had a problem with a 75 gallon gas fired heater that has approximately a 4" split near the very top of the heater and so much for TESTING their products"
They did offer me $125 to disassemble the gas, flue, hot and cold water lines then lug it up from a basement and bring it back to my supply house and it took 2 men to set it in place and they offered me a whopping $125.00 and that was credit towards another tank
Real good of these people huh?
From my personal experience the plastic drains are crap and the manufacturer should be forced to have their face placed under scalding water when they had the gall to send junk like this out to the general public.
I happen to like replacing this inferior product with a brass valve or better yet I use a brass nipple and an Apollo full port ball valve, much less chance of it getting blocked with sediment.
After becoming a certified low pressure boiler and unfired pressure vessel inspector I try to treat the H/W tanks as I would a boiler so proper drain (blow down) can be safely accomplished.
Depending on a plastic (globe pattern) valve with a little washer is not what I would call worth the money I spent on the tank.
I happen to like the idea when I open and then decide to close a valve that it will shut off.
This gives me peace of mind.
Of course your looking at possibly another $8.00 - $10.00 more if the manufacturer put it in the first place but this being America and most of these potential bombs are foreign made product liability become a mute point.
AO Smith had the following problems that cost me several hundred dollars out of pocket because they did not own up to doing the right thing
1- They had a major problem with dip tube failures that was brought to my attention by another manufacturer who was really concerned about the T&P being blocked by these plastic particles.
2- AO Smith had a problem with a 75 gallon gas fired heater that has approximately a 4" split near the very top of the heater and so much for TESTING their products"
They did offer me $125 to disassemble the gas, flue, hot and cold water lines then lug it up from a basement and bring it back to my supply house and it took 2 men to set it in place and they offered me a whopping $125.00 and that was credit towards another tank
Real good of these people huh?
