Fresh Water Tank Drain

[73shark]

Did you put any pipe thread tape on the plug? That usually makes it easier to start screwing in. Do the end threads on the plug look OK?

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by paullovern

Protag,
Please let us know if you find a source for the drain plugs. I recently replaced our water heater and sanitized it. When I drained it by removing the drain plug, I can't seem to get it back in without cross threading it.

The water heater and fresh water plugs are not unique. You can get something suitable from any good hardware store or Lowes and Home Depot.

[withidl]

For what it's worth, I sanitize my ASCL tanks with pool shock (used to broadcast across the pool to "shock" / kill all living organisms once or twice a month). You can get it at Home Depot in granular form; keeps forever, but don't store inside as it is terribly corrosive. Mixed with water it becomes something like 80%+ chlorine.

I put several table spoons in an ~quart container of water and mix until dissolved. Treating the black water tank I put it directly down the toilet, fill and let sit about an hour, drain and fill/flush twice; same for the grey water tank except I put it down the sink drain; same for the white water tank except I put it down the fill pipe and run it through the lines with the water pump and after flushing twice I purge the lines with fresh water to clear the shock solution out.

I figured that if I could swim in the pool a couple of days after shocking it and it was the same chemical as the chlorine tablets used in the skimmer basket to maintain the pool, it would be a good treatment for the AS tanks. It has worked for me since 2001 without any deleterious effect.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

The water heater and fresh water plugs are not unique. You can get something suitable from any good hardware store or Lowes and Home Depot.

I haven't found one to fit at Home Depot yet. Haven't tried Lowes or Ace Hardware yet.

[Boxster1971]

Fresh water drain is 3/4" pipe thread. Water heater is 1/2" pipe thread.

[joemikeb]

Originally Posted by withidl

I figured that if I could swim in the pool a couple of days after shocking it and it was the same chemical as the chlorine tablets used in the skimmer basket to maintain the pool, it would be a good treatment for the AS tanks. It has worked for me since 2001 without any deleterious effect.

There a variety of non-chlorine pool cleaners on the market and you can go swimming in those water two hours after you have shocked the pool. Those would work equally well in sanitizing your tanks and without the corrosive properties of Chlorine or Calcium Hypochlorite. These products are basically Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and although I would not recommend it you can drink Hydrogen Peroxide without harm. A pint bottle of H2O2 purchased at the nearest drugstore or supermarket should be enough to clean any of the water tanks. Besides that it is good for cleansing and sterilizing any cuts and scrapes.

[David M]

joemikeb,
So can I also add a little H2O2 to my fresh water tank to keep it sterilized? I also keep a full tank of water in the AI for emergencies. If so, how much?
Thanks,
David

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Fresh water drain is 3/4" pipe thread.

I'm not entirely sure mine is 3/4". I bought a 3/4" threaded valve once, intending to install it in place of the plug, and it was too small. I think mine might be 7/8" instead. But no matter. Whatever it is, next time I drain the freshwater tank I'll put the plug in my pocket and take it with me when I go shopping to get an exact match.

[Boxster1971]

Right on! Best to take old plug with you to get a match.