plastic water heater drain

Hey,
New poster here. Been lurking awhile.

Trying to set up thermosiphoning system returning to bottom of 50 gallon Whirlpool electic water heater. Thought cranking the plastic drain off may be an issue so I called manufacturer. “No problem…it’s durable, just crank it off,†tech rep said.

Right…big channel locks busted the hose bib part immediately. Cranked on the remaining stem which had the shut off valve but getting nowhere except mangling. Yep, counterclockwise.

Do I need to remove the cover…other tips? Without hot water in the meantime…any prompt advice would be greatly appreciated!

ToddO

Try turning it to the right and when it moves go back to the left.......
See if you can get a bite on something solid with a vice grip......

tried...

Thanks for responding. Maybe I dont have big enough tools. Just can't get it to turn either way. Stripping the plastic even cranked down on the vgrips.

Should have mentioned it before...WH is only a year or two old, thought it would be an easy propositon. I would have been happy to pay a couple bucks extra for a genuine metal drain like the old ones.

Any additional suggestions - dynamite, etc. appreciated.

ToddO

drain

If it doesn't turn somewhat easily, then you will probably have to cut, chop, or melt it out.

use sprinkler head removal tool

designed to remove broken off plastic risers

drain the tank first

drain the tank first .

then take a hammer and break the damn thing off at the heater...

a coupole of good hits and it will break off


then all you got to do is take a hack saw blade

and saw that palstic from the inside of the hole.....


cut it through about three palces and then it should just

fall out with a small screwdriver or chisel....

then install the system you want to do....

Oops, should have checked back in.

"take a hack saw blade and saw that palstic from the inside of the hole.....
cut it through about three palces and then it should just fall out with a small screwdriver or chisel...."

Got up early yesterday and that's exactly what I did. Took about 10 minutes. Night before I got PO'd and whapped a cold chisel in to try and torque out. Thought I boogered the treads but the nipple slipped right in, thankfully.

As for the install, please see my recirculation thread somewhere (hopefully) still on the first plumbing page. Didn't quite go as planned...any further advice appreciated.

ToddO