Hot Water Heater Darin Tool August 30, 2009, 10:05:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 105406There was a post earlier about connecting a reinforced toilet tank hose and valve to flush the hot water heater. I can't find it. Any Help?Thanks
Re: Hot Water Heater Drain Tool Reply #1 – August 31, 2009, 12:15:16 am Yahoo Message Number: 105409You're probably thinking of the dra
Re: Hot Water Heater Drain Tool Reply #2 – August 31, 2009, 12:25:42 am Yahoo Message Number: 105412The photo URLs in my previous post seem to have wrapped unsuccessfully. Try these.Yahoo group album: http://tinyurl.com/heaterdrain2Photobucket album with 6 large images: http://tinyurl.com/heaterdrain
Re: Hot Water Heater Drain Tool Reply #3 – August 31, 2009, 09:28:53 am Yahoo Message Number: 105418This is so elegant! I'm heading to the hardware store to get the parts today. Thanks joanne0012!Richard
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #4 – August 31, 2009, 11:44:24 am Yahoo Message Number: 105425"There was a post earlier about connecting a reinforced toilet tank hose and valve to flush the hot water heater. I can't find it. Any Help?"Tim Instead of installing a drain valve, I prefer to use a flushing tool to breakup and remove calcium deposits that just flushing does not remove. Remove the plastic plug using a ratchet, extension and the proper size socket to fit the plug. Removing the plug allows much better water flow than a valve, and, more importantly, provides access to the tank's interior.Use a Tank Saver Flushing Tool, available at Camping World for $10. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/tank-saver-flushing-tool/14677 http://www.khulsey.com/rv_info/review_rv_water_heater_flushing_tool.htmlThe tool is hooked to a hose and them pushed inside the tank and actively rotated and move in and out. The soft plastic tool will not damage the interior, instead, it breaks ups calcium deposits. Turn the water pump on to flush out the newly loosened particles. You will see hundreds of small pieces of calcium on your driveway when you are done. I like to flush the tank once or twice a year.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #5 – August 31, 2009, 12:25:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 105426On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:44:13 -0000, "lw5315us" wrote:QuoteInstead of installing a drain valve, I prefer to use a flushing tool to breakup and remove calcium deposits that just flushing does not remove. I would like to second that advise. Perhaps a drain value has appeal as it is difficult to remove the plug wo the proper tools?Cheers, Don
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #6 – August 31, 2009, 12:52:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 105428The drain valve that I installed is just for draining. Those of us who rarely encounter hard water don't need special flushing setups. I was able to remove the old plastic drain plug with my bare hands, but it was inconvenient and splashy.Joanne
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #7 – August 31, 2009, 12:57:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 105429wrote: Perhaps a drain value has appeal as it is difficult to remove the plug wo the proper tools? --- An 8" crescent wrench works fine for me to remove the water heater drain plug. Just go *easy* to avoid shearing off the plug head; it is a very tedious chore to dig the plastic threads out!Joan
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #8 – August 31, 2009, 01:51:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 105432On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:51:57 -0000, "joanne0012" wrote these inspiring words:QuoteI was able to remove the old plastic drain plug with my bare hands, WOW! I will not be messing with you JoanneCheers, Don
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #9 – July 12, 2014, 04:19:42 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147311Hi Joanne,I love this idea for the hot water heater drain! I purchased each of the three precise parts you specified, but even though I got a ½" nipple with the same part number, it appears that the opening, after removing the hot water heater plug, is too small for the nipple. I re-checked your photos, though, and I'm not sure that you removed anything other than the plug. Do you know what I'm missing?Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #10 – July 13, 2014, 12:05:25 am Yahoo Message Number: 147314In a pinch I have used channel locks (big pliers) but prefer using a socket with an extension. Here in the mid Atlantic I often see seatmate come out if I do a good enough flush. Now days I tend to dump my hot water tank (and fresh water) if I am letting the RV sit for more than a week. It keeps the seatmate low and also keeps the lines fresh because city water anti bacteria chemicals (chlorine and the like) bubbles out after a few days. Water with no chemicals is not bad in of itself, but I cant help but feel water just sitting in a tank is not good.
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #11 – July 13, 2014, 11:36:23 am Yahoo Message Number: 147318"I tend to dump my hot water tank (and fresh water) if I am letting the RV sit for more than a week. It keeps the seatmate low..."John, I must be having a mental lapse, because I can't quite seem to grasp this. Can you clarify what "seatmate" you're referring to?Andy BairdTravels with Andy
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #12 – July 13, 2014, 11:51:45 am Yahoo Message Number: 147319I think he is referring to sediment. Simple misspelling,BarryFrom:, I must be having a mental lapse, because I can't quite seem to grasp this. Can you clarify what "seatmate" you're referring to?
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #13 – July 13, 2014, 12:12:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147320Sediment?
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #14 – July 13, 2014, 01:13:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147321Guilty. I messed up on the spelling. One of these days I'll learn to take a closer look at what I poke out of the keyboard. Sorry John
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #15 – July 13, 2014, 01:58:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147322Thing he means "sediment!"
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #16 – July 13, 2014, 02:24:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147323Guilty. I messed up on the spelling. One of these days I'll learn to take a closer look at what I poke out of the keyboard. Sorry John Dam keyboard keeps doing what we tell it to do not whan we want it to do.A MEN:
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin ("Drain"!)Tool Reply #17 – July 13, 2014, 02:30:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147324This is quite funny--I just realized that the very subject line of this thread contains a misspelling. I was wondering what a "darin" tool was, and then realized Joanne meant "drain."In any case, I recently posted a question about this project to Joanne:After removing the drain plug, the opening seems to small for the ½" nipple that Joanne describes. I'm certain I have the actual part number she used.Does anyone know what I'm missing? Do I need to remove more than the plug itself?
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #18 – July 13, 2014, 05:49:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147327Heh heh--everybody guessed it but me. I knew I was missing something! Thanks, guys.Andy BairdTravels with Andy
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #19 – July 13, 2014, 11:33:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147336I installed a 1/4 turn boiler drain valve years ago--I had to cut off part of the handle but it works in that small space.Bob 1998 30ft IB NE-29
Re: Hot Water Heater Darin Tool Reply #20 – July 14, 2014, 07:19:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147365It may not be you. Autocorrect (autocorrupt) can be blamed too.