DIYbanter - View Single Post - Quick basic advice on a dripping gas 40-gal hot-water heater

Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coordinator

On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:27:28 -0800 (PST), wrote:
the plastic valves are fine if they get just ONE use, to drain the
tank at end of use.......

Hi hallerb,
I understand your point. But, from what I read, they used to be brass and
the manufacturers switched to the plastic for cost reasons only.

Also, I read a brass ball valve doesn't clog as easily.

Given our experience this past weekend, where the valve first clogged and
then broke off inside the water heater, it would seem to us that over time,
the brass will be less likely to break than the plastic.

Of course, one reason ours clogged was likely the fact we never flushed it
so the sediments may have been too much for any valve - and one reason it
broke is that we were manhandling it trying to get the tipped-over water
heater back on the stand ... so you might be right.

I think I now understand how to replace the brass valve. In fact, a more
important issue came up in that our dishwasher suddenly stopped working. I
think it's due to the sediment being sent through the pipes (our shower
heads were totally clogged all of a sudden, with sandy grainy stuff).

I opened a separate thread on alt.home.repair to ask how to clean out a
dishwasher without being able to remove it (it's bricked in it seems).

I feel like "this old house" is attacking me so it's nice to have this
wonderful newsgroup as my friends to help in times of need!

Donna