Replacing water heater drainage valve

darsunt

I have a water heater that is leaking slowly from the drainage valve. I've been told that it is easy to replace (after turning off and draining the tank). Just remove the old plastic valve, and replace it with brass valve that looks like the valve for the front yard hose.

Is this true? And will teflon taple hold up to seal the threads for hot water?

Mike Swearingen

Turn OFF the power or gas and water supply to the heater.
Drain the tank and remove the leaking drain valve counter-clockwise.
Wrap 2-3 flat wraps of teflon tape around the threads of the new valve clockwise only as the threaded end faces you, and tighten it in good.
You're done.
Good luck!
Mike

darsunt

Made a mistake, assumed drainage valve was threaded on a metal nipple. Actually no metal nipple, only pvc pipe with drainage valve attached at end. Broke off this pvc pipe at the tank surface.

A pal helped out and chiseled the remainder of the pipe out with a screwdriver. I never would have thought of that.

The remainder of repair went okay. Put in a nipple and hose bib as replacement drainage valve.