How To Replace A Drain Valve On A Water Heater

Water heater bleed valves can get clogged with mineral deposits, or they tin can wear out. A clogged bleed valve can impede the catamenia of water within the water heater and won't drain. A damaged or worn-out valve, on the other hand, tin cause your water heater to leak.

So, tin a water heater drain valve be replaced? Bleed valves are readily bachelor in hardware stores and online shops. Many stock water heaters have plastic drain valves that tin easily fail. If you have a plastic drain valve, it'due south as well a good idea to replace it immediately to forbid holding impairment from a leaky drain valve.

While most water heaters come with plastic valves, you should consider upgrading to a brass ball valve. These valves are stronger and more durable, while plastic drain valves are prone to breaking and clog relatively easily.

Plumbers recommend the ball brass valves merely because they provide fast draining and hassle-gratis maintenance. Simply make sure the ball valve is fabricated for water heaters.

To larn more than about replacing your water heater drain valve, read on.

Choosing the Correct Drain Valve Replacement

In that location are iii chief types of drain valves found in gas and electric water heaters: plastic, composite, and brass.

Equally stated above, most water heaters come with built-in plastic valves, merely you lot tin all the same supervene upon them with contumely/blended valves.

Plastic valves are the cheapest but not quite as reliable as the two options. Since they get damaged easily, the valves are more likely to leak. Composite (glass-filled nylon) valves exercise non deplete the organization anode like contumely valves and so. They are besides relatively cost-effective.

Brass valves remain the best option for water heaters. Not only are they durable, but they can also withstand the higher temperatures seen in high-temperature installations.

Contumely valves come up in both ball valves and gate valves.

Brawl valves are either fully open or fully closed, with nada in between. Although they cost a few dollars more, these valves let water to drain quickly, so y'all might want to go with one of them over the standard option.

How to Remove a Cleaved or Faulty Drain Valve

If you want to remove a broken or faulty drain valve, you'll need the following items:

Screwdriver/ needle-nose pliers
Hacksaw blade
Self-tapping threaded inserts for plastic
Hosepipe
Large saucepan
Adjustable wrench/tongue-and-groove pliers

Removing the valve may not be every bit straightforward every bit it sounds, but it's nothing overly complicated.

Plastic bleed valves are a flake tricky to remove as they tin can hands break off in the process. So you need to be a bit cautious when dealing with 1 to avoid further damage.

Before removing the drain valve, brand sure the valve that the cold h2o supply into the water heater is turned off. The water taps should besides be closed.

You demand to drain your h2o heater first if at all possible. For a step-by-step guide to drain your water heater, come across our article Water Heater Maintenance Tips – Gas and Electrical Tank Water Heaters.

You should as well check and replace your anode rod if needed. See our commodity Water Heater Anode Rods: What it is & How to Replace information technology for a step-by-pace guide to anode replacing rods.

There are 3 ways you can go nigh the removal.

Method 1 – Unscrew the Plastic Drain Valve

Using a pair of channel lock pliers, try to carefully remove the drain valve by twisting it in a counter-clockwise motion. If you can carefully remove the plastic drain valve without breaking it, it'll brand the process much easier.

Method 2 – Cutting the Drain Valve Off

Using a hacksaw blade, make ii cuts across the nipple until it pops out. Be careful not to cut the threads on the water heater. Finally, remove the remaining pieces with a small screwdriver or needle-olfactory organ pliers.

Method 3 – Remove a Cleaved Drain Valve

Another method is to use a tapered threaded insert for plastics. Only button the inserts into the nipple and unscrew it. Still, this might non piece of work if you're dealing with a plastic valve in an old h2o heater.

How to Supercede a Water Heater Drain Valve

If you want to replace a water heater drain valve, you'll need the following materials:

Adjustable wrench or channel lock pliers
Large bucket
Rags
Garden hose
H2o heater bleed valve
Teflon tape
Pipe dope

And here'south a pace-by-footstep guide to replacing your valve:

Footstep 1: Switch off the power supply.

For safe purposes, y'all need to switch off the power supply at the circuit breaker. If your h2o heater uses natural gas, plow the regulator valve to "airplane pilot." Also, so that the h2o is not wasted, use the hot water in the tank to wash dishes, clothes, or showers.

If y'all have an electric water heater, turn the breaker off in the electrical panel box.

Stride two: Turn the cold water supply valve off.

Next, you need to turn the cold water supply off to the water heater. This prevents the water heater from filling when you showtime to drain the h2o heater. To turn the valve off, plow the valve perpendicular to the supply piping.

Step 3: Drain the water heater

Connect the garden hose to the drain valve and run it exterior the ground or to a floor drain. Open the bleed valve and the hot h2o tap in a nearby sink.

If the tank is non draining, you will need to open the pressure relief valve located on the tank's superlative (or side). Once that'south done, permit the h2o to bleed out.

If the drain valve is clogged with sediment, stick a screwdriver into the hole and try to intermission up the sediment. Brand sure you lot have cleared all the sediments inside the tank.

Depending on the size of the h2o heater, it could take upwardly to 30 minutes to drain fully.

Step 4: Remove the former drain valve.

With the water heater drained, you'll need to remove the quondam drain valve. With a pair of aqueduct lock pliers, advisedly unscrew the drain valve in a counter-clockwise motion, trying not to break the drain valve.

If the aqueduct lock pliers do non remove the seal, y'all may need a larger 18″ piping wrench or breaker bar.

If the drain valve breaks, you'll need to remove the remnants of the drain valve from the bleed valve port. Be careful non to damage the threading on the port. One time all the remnants are removed, make clean the port to prepare for the new bleed valve.

Pace v: Install the new drain valve.

Get-go, wrap the thread with Teflon tape. Apply the tape to the right in the same direction the bleed valve is treaded then that the tape tightens as the bleed valve is tightened. Apply a light coat of pipe dope if desired.

Later that, please insert the new drain valve in the pigsty and use a wrench to tighten information technology. Ensure the valve is in the same position as the old one, snug and pointing downwards.

When installing a ball valve, ensure the handle has enough room to be entirely on or off.

If installing a plastic drain valve, brand sure yous don't overtighten the connections. The excessive force tin cause the valve to break off and leak. It may non happen right away, but information technology will make its fashion effectually eventually.

Stride 6: Turn on the Cold Water Supply

Now yous demand to turn the cold water supply back on to refill the tank. While the tank is filling, bank check for leaks and tighten the drain valve slowly if needed. Be sure to fill the unabridged tank earlier turning the power back on.

As the water in the tank rises, air volition escape through the open hot water tap. Once h2o exits the hot water tap, close the tap.

Step half-dozen: Plough on the gas supply or power.

If there are no water leaks, turn the gas command knob dorsum to the desired setting. For electric heaters, turn the breaker in the console box dorsum to the on position.

Cheque for water leaks for the next few days to be on the safe side.

Best Water Heater Drain Valves

Hither are some of the best replacement options on the market today:

Rheem SP12112G Brass Bleed Valve – Coming from the leading provider of electric and gas water heaters, its quality is unquestionable. This brass drain valve fits both Rheem and Rudd heaters perfectly. For your convenience, it comes with a screwdriver slot to open and shut the drain valve. This helps to operate the drain vale in tight locations.

House Mods HMP010 Brass 3/iv\" MIP H2o Heater Replacement Bleed Valve – This heavy-duty brass ball valve comes with an enlarged octagon nut for easy installation. It also has a full port ball valve, making it easy to unclog and for fast draining. The handle is quite large, so ensure yous have enough room for installation.

Eastman 60092LF H2o Heater Drain Valve, 0.7 x 0.75 x ii, Brass – This is another quality written report yet cheap contumely drain valve. It's lead compliant and designed for MHT outlet connections. This means it can fit directly into any water heater. It besides provides a strong compression hold without creating a mess while cleaning.

Camco 11683 3/eight″ Water Heater Bleed Valve – A very like shooting fish in a barrel-to-install bleed valve made of durable brass. It comes with an east-twist handle that can fit virtually RVs. It tin can handle a maximum working pressure of 120. As well, information technology comes at a budget-friendly price tag.

Reliance 9000058 two-Inch Water Heater Drain Valve -Different other options on the list, this tool is made of fiberglass-reinforced Celcom. This ii-inch drain valve is designed to fit all residential h2o heaters. It has a hose thread outlet and a iii/four-inch MIPS inlet and comes at an affordable price.

Camco 11513 H2o Heater Drain Valve (Brass) – Another peachy product from Camco. This is a brass constructed valve that fits direct into any water heater blazon. It's 2.5 inches long and features a 3/four inch NPT and a 3/iv-inch male hose thread.

Camco 11523 3/4″ Plastic Water Heater Drain Valve with 2-1/two″ Shank – If yous prefer plastic drain valves, you should consider this option. It's made of reinforced plastic for durability. As well, information technology comes with an easy-to-grip handle for piece of cake installation. Information technology features a 3/4 inch NPT thread inlet likewise as a three/four inch NH thread outlet.