When your mind says "don't do this".
 

Read that its good to drain your water heater once in a while. To get rid of the sediment. So I went out to mine today (relocated outside when I re-piped to copper from galvanized years ago, it used to be in an inside closet with no drain (eff that). I was going to drain it and the plastic handle-fitting broke on the drain. so I'm looking at it and thinking I have never drained this thing. I was going to take a vice-grip to the valve and thought, if the plastic drain valve also fails, I'm in for a whole lot of hurt. I think I'll let it sit until it fails. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1473884111.jpg

Good plan. It's amazing to me that the manufacturers say to drain it periodically but won't put a functioning drain valve on them. Maybe amazing is the wrong word. "Not surprising" is more like it.

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is :)

That's known as 'pregret'.

I had a Rheem water heater a long time ago. After years, I got to thinking it was pretty old - at 17 years old and started wondering when it was going to need replacing. Of course it started to leak the next week. If I hadn't started to wonder about it, it probably would've lasted another 17 years.

If you drill it out it'll drain just fine!

Change the anode in the thing....it will last another 15 years.

It's probably possible to:
-Kill the house water supply (make sure the main shut off works 100% before going further!).
-Drain pipes from lowest point.
-Remove plastic crap.
-Replace with brass drain valve.
-There may be an electrolysis spacer and/or reducer sleeve required.
-Do it on a monday week off so the stores are open.
-Fill plenty of buckets before (or have a nice pool handy for the lucky some of us).
-Have other water options available in case the pros are needed.

The anodized rods only last 3-5 yrs I think.
I just drained my heater and got numerous buckets before the water was running clear again.
Rusty water affects laundry..

You've probably ignored that voice a time or two and learned that it's a voice that you should heed.

I had something similar once. I think I had replaced a toilet or the wax ring on a toilet and had the head snap off of the valve when I shut it to remove the toilet. I didn't want to have an issue with trying to replace that valve. I had mental images of the pipe that it was screwed to twisting off inside the wall, so I called a plumber. I decided that I would have him do every valve in the house. I was laughing on the inside when he was able to screw every one off without a problem and had all 11 of them replaced in about 20-30 mins. I wasn't angry, because I was pretty sure that the only reason that it went that smoothly was because I had hired a plumber.

I replaced my front door knob-set this morning.....no issues at all. The old one was here when I bought the place 20 years ago so it had a good run.

Just posting this as a counter balance to yours, Hugh. :)

Baz...you crack me up.

Hope you sleep well tonight knowing you have 20 year old nails holding the place together :)

When I did mine, the valve opened right up, but not a drip of water came out. When I would poke a coat hanger up in there , I would get a few drops out. There was so much sediment in there , it was amazing .
I ended up removing the water heater all together, and pulling out the drain, and both heating elements, and hosing it out. rolling it around, and blowing compressed air through it . I got a ton of stuff out of there . I probably should have just replaced it then, but it is still going strong 5 years later ...

My Baldwin front door lock. I paid a guy $85 to take it apart and fix it, good for another 20 years. Some things you just don't want to delve into.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1473962574.jpg

I agree with you, Hugh. Just let it be. Maybe it will last another 5-10 years if you just leave it alone...

Those handles break all of the time. Like others said you can just leave it alone. If you really wanted to open the valve just stick a slotted screwdriver in the top of the valve and turn it counter clockwise to open.
I was in HVAC for 35 years and I replaced those valves all the time.
If you fly me down I'll replace it for free with a brass valve. SmileWavy