Just like any other water valves, your water heater’s drain valve can wear out and leak. Fixing of a drain valve that is leaking is possible but can be challenging. You must not leap into the conclusion of replacing the water heater’s drain valve. The fixing of a drain valve includes the following procedure.
Whether it is leaking from the drain valve or not
Firstly check if the leak is from the drain valve only. Use a cotton swab and wrap it around the pipe. If the swab gets wet, then you can confirm on the leak from the drain valve. Now that the hole is established, the drain valve needs to be tightened. Use an adjustable wrench and tighten it in small increments. Remember not to over tighten it as it may worsen the leak. The main idea is to make the washer seat better, which may stop the leak.
If even after tightening the drain valve you finds moisture, dry the lid using a towel and wait for an hour before you put it back. If you face same problem then you can find tankless water heater review on web and install new one. Prolonged usage of the heater can lead to condensation of the valve, and the moisture formed can be enough at times to drip and pool on the floor.
Capping the valve for minor leaks is also a practical approach. A cap can be put on the outlet of the drain for holes which are not too bad. A plumbing seal tape can also be wrapped around the edge of the drain valve where it connects the heater to stop minor leaks.
What to do if the washer is damaged or worn out
A leak can also take place when the washer inside the valve gets damaged by using a screwdriver. For checking this one can loosen the screw as this would assure proper handling of the faucet with the screwdriver. Now the packing nut can be removed under the handle and loosen the valve stem nut beneath the packing nut to remove it. Inspect the water for tears, and if there’s any, the washer needs to be replaced. Remove the screw which secures the machine to replace it and then reassemble the valve.
Replacing the drain valve
The last option available is to replace the drain valve. For this first turn off the power to the water heater and close all the inlets of supply. Now connect a hose to the drain valve and place the other end of the tube near a floor drain. Also, open the faucet of any outlets the water heater is connected. Drain the water in the tank through these outlets. Using a wrench, gently remove the old valve and replace it with the new one. Ensure to put plumber‘s tape around the threads of the new pipe. Now you are done replacing the drain valve of your water heater.
Similar drain valves to your water heater’s drain valve are readily available in the market and are easy to install. While choosing the plug, you need to make sure that you use a new valve which matches the old one. Drain valves can be bought through online appliance parts dealers or from any right plumbing supplier who can provide an exact replacement.
