CloudDriver
New Jersey Shore
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Joined: 10/30/2005
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My experience is that with a little plumber's putty on the threads of the plug and 1/4 turn past finger tight there will be no leak. The plug comes out easily if not overtightened.
2003 Winnebago Minnie 24F - Ford E-450
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427435
Rochester, Mn
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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I like the hot knife blade idea. When mine twisted off, I didn't think of that-----so I used a hacksaw blade to carefully cut through the shell in a couple of places and then dentist picks to dig the stuff out. I did manage to slightly nick the threads, but I bought a steel pipe plug the same size and used it to "chase" the threads. Then put a new plastic plug in with some never-seize.
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis
2003 Ford Explorer toad with US Gear brakes,
ReadyBrute tow bar, and Demco base plate.
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alfredmay
West Milford, NJ / Donna, TX
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I inserted the tip of a Bowie knife. This style of knife has a sharp edge on the top and bottom of the blade tip. I pushed the knife blade into the hole and turned it. The plug came right out....... took 30 seconds.
Alfred May
2005 Excursion V10 4.30 4x4
2002 Cedar Creek 30RBS TT by Forest River
Reese Dual Cam
Tekonsha Prodigy
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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solismaris,
While there is some good advice here, there is also some really bad advice as well. The use of any type of anode in an Atwood water heater will void the warranty on the aluminum tank because it will destroy it.
The reason for the plastic drain plug in the Atwood is that the aluminum tanks can seize if the wrong plug is used and a steel or galvanized plug will chemically react with the aluminum of the tank. You can use a brass plug and in fact, there are brass plugs available from Atwood for their water heaters. I would not use teflon tape on the nylon plug.
If you do use the nylon plugs, Atwood recommends that it be replaced with a new one at least every other year when draining and flushing the tank. If you purchase a brass plug, they use teflon tape on it and they will last for years, even though they cost several times as much as the nylon. If you do buy another nylon plug, notice that they come in a two-pack.
Good travelin! ........Kirk
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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Joined: 10/07/2008
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Kirk wrote:solismaris,
While there is some good advice here, there is also some really bad advice as well. The use of any type of anode in an Atwood water heater will void the warranty on the aluminum tank because it will destroy it.
No one recommended using an anode, and everyone recommended using a non-metallic plug. Which is the "really bad advice"? 
Dutch
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wa0mqe
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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Joined: 06/15/2003
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jesterdog wrote:You might also investigate those tools they sell at Lowes/HD for working on pvc lawn sprinkler systems.
The tools made for removing broken plastic from lawn sprinkler systems as jesterdog mentions don't work well for this. The white plastic plugs they use in the water heaters are to soft and it will just tear them up and shave them smooth. This makes it even harder to get out.
Dutch has the best idea. Once you can get a hold of a piece of the old plastic with a pair of needle nose pliers then it's real easy to remove it.
Bob Bowers
2004 Pace Arrow, 8.1 Workhorse W22
Colorado Springs, CO
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