WH Drain plug wrench size

[Franksteer]

I have a 10 gallon atwood hot water heater. I want to drain and clean it. What size socket do I need to buy to take out the plug? Thanks

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Franksteer-

It depends. Atwood has used both 7/8-inch and 15/16-inch flats on their nylon plugs.

On my coach's heater, it's not possible to get a socket over the plug. I have had to remove the sheet metal chimney to get a wrench on the plug. I haven't dropped the $ yet to buy an offset wrench, which would probably eliminate the need to remove the chimney.

[Franksteer]

Thanks Mark

[Kayak73]

All prior RVs had the mentioned plug and I carried a "wobble" socket in each size in the tool kit. So a short extension to the wobble socket and you are good to go. BTW, 90% of the time any dealer that touches the thing will just put a pair of pliers on it and ruin the hex cap. I've replaced several because of that practice. If you don't have a wobble socket you can try a universal between the socket and extension. I was able to remove the plug every time one way or the other without removing anything else in the way.



Now I've got other things to deal with in service of the Truma.

[bamaboy473]

You can easily go the Lowes or HD route and buy one of each sized socket, then return the one not needed. With the Refund money, get a few plugs of the same size from the Plumbing section, and maybe a cheap ratchet that you can keep in the compartment along with the socket.

[RayJr]

Whatever one fits, as someone else said it depends

[powercat_ras]

Another option, for Atwood RV Water Heaters with Plastic Drain Plug, includes new plastic plug and teflon tape ... 7/8 and 15/16 drain plug wrench

[rarebear.nm]

My 10 gallon Atwood takes a 7/8 socket. Typically when I buy stuff at a box store and I'm not sure the right size or quantity, I just buy the extras and return what I don't need or want to keep.

I always carry regular and wobble drive extensions.

[golden13]

If you have the nylon drain plug, it's always a good idea to simply replace it every year. It's very inexpensive and most RV supply places sell a package of 2 or 3 with a specialized wrench that's angled to get behind the tubing, etc. as easily as possible. The whole thing should cost less than $10. https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Water-H...7675181&sr=8-2

[Chuckmor]

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

You can easily go the Lowes or HD route and buy one of each sized socket, then return the one not needed. With the Refund money, get a few plugs of the same size from the Plumbing section, and maybe a cheap ratchet that you can keep in the compartment along with the socket.

Be careful buying plugs at the hardware store. I bought some 1” without comparing with the original and they didn’t work. Had to get at an RV place.

[Diesel-Lover]

Originally Posted by golden13

If you have the nylon drain plug, it's always a good idea to simply replace it every year. It's very inexpensive and most RV supply places sell a package of 2 or 3 with a specialized wrench that's angled to get behind the tubing, etc. as easily as possible. The whole thing should cost less than $10. https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Water-H...7675181&sr=8-2

Golden13 you rock. Thanks to your link for the wrench and plugs under 10 bucks wow, I also found that rinse attachment, now I can be less messy flushing the tank out.


I have a plastic air pressure water purging thing already but may order that brass one just because. Thanks again. Great find.

[Kvw613]

Crescent wrench does the job just fine. Sure,it gets a little chewed up after a while, but how often will you really be using it, twice a year? Don’t overthink things.

[bamaboy473]

Originally Posted by Chuckmor

Be careful buying plugs at the hardware store. I bought some 1” without comparing with the original and they didn’t work. Had to get at an RV place.

Box stores don't sell odd-sized items; they are all national branded items, so the plug you bought might have been threaded for a different application.

Not meant to argue the point, but rather to comfort those that might not know the difference and read more into your post than intended.

[sherf]

Hate to say this, but if you need help figuring out what size wrench you need perhaps you should let a service technician do this for you.

[Journey39n]

Our Atwood 10 gallon hot water heater tank uses the 15/16" nylon plug.

I have flushed the tank once a year since we have owned it. Depending upon where we have camped, never too much white scale comes out but in some years, more than others.

I bought a few extra nylon plugs, 6 years ago, but with careful extraction and re-insertion, only needed to replace it every 5 years as it ages from heat. Expect to do that for the second time in its life, later this year.