Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve Replacement [3 Simple Steps]

You can follow these Rheem Water Heater drain valve replacement procedure to replace the drain valve like a pro: 

• Turn off the electric supply at the circuit breaker or shut off the gas supply to your water heater. 
• Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of your hot water heater. Then, place the other end of the hose to the nearest floor drain.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to open the drain valve and let the water drain. 
• Use an adjustable wrench to remove the drain valve. 
• Replace the old drain valve with a new one and install it. 

To explore more helpful info about drain valve replacement, continue to read.

Table of Contents

• What causes the Rheem Water Heater to leak from the bottom?
• Where do you get the Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve Replacement?
• Does every water heater drain valve have the same size?
• How do you drain sediment from a Rheem Water Heater?
• Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve Replacement: The How-To Steps
  • Step 1. Equipment You Need
  • Step 2. Drain Your Rheem Water Heater 
  • Step 3. Remove The Drain Valve & Replace It  
• FAQs
• End-Note

What causes the Rheem Water Heater to leak from the bottom?

A defective drain valve will cause your Rheem Water Heater to leak from the bottom. Typically, when the valve gasket wears out, the water in the tank will find a way through the valve to leak. It can flood your floor or the basement if you don’t take immediate action. The only way to resolve this issue is to replace the drain valve. Below, I will describe how to replace the drain valve in detail. So, keep scrolling.

Where do you get the Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve Replacement?

You will get the Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve Replacement on Amazon or Rheem Replacement Parts. 

On Amazon, you will find two models of brass drain valves- Rheem SP12112G and Rheem SP122231B. I highly recommend you visit Rheem Replacement Parts to get the best results. 

I recommend you consider the tank fitting size and the shank length of the drain valve when purchasing a drain valve for your water heater. 

Don’t forget to check the manual or the part itself to find the part number, which will help you buy the drain valve that fits your water heater.

Does every water heater drain valve have the same size?

No, not every water heater drain valve has the same size. Each water heater model requires a specific drain valve with a specific diameter and length. 

For example, a 75-gallon water heater’s drain valve won’t fit in a water heater of 40 or 50 gallons. Because, the 75-gallon water comes with a longer drain valve with a wider diameter than a 40 or 50-gallon water heater.

How do you drain sediment from a Rheem Water Heater?

You can try the following step-by-step procedure to drain sediment from your Rheem Water Heater: 

• Locate the drain valve at the bottom of your water heater.
• Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and place the other end to the nearest floor drain or outside. 
• Open the drain valve using a flathead screwdriver to let the water drain. Wait until all the water is completely drained. 
• Once you drain all the water from the tank, refill the tank.
• Check the drain valve for a leak. Ensure the drain valve is closed. 
• Again, open the cold water valve to flush out the leftover sediment. 
• Also, you can pour a gallon of vinegar through a hot water tank. Vinegar will help you cut the restriction and remove the sediment. 

Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve Replacement: The How-To Steps

This chapter walk you through three easy-to-follow steps to replace the Rheem water heater drain valve successfully. 

Step 1. Equipment You Need

You should have the following pieces of equipment to replace the Rheem Water Heater Drain Valve: 

• A new drain valve 
• Adjustable wrench 
• Teflon tape 
• Flat blade screwdriver 
• Garden hose 
• Rags or towel  

I recommend you go to the Rheem official website and choose a specific drain valve that fits your current water heater. 

Don’t forget to turn off the electric supply to your electric water heater at the circuit breaker. On the other hand, if you have a gas water heater, turn the gas supply off. 

Step 2. Drain Your Rheem Water Heater

Use a garden hose and attach it to the drain valve at the bottom of your water heater. Then, run the other end of the hose to the nearest floor drain or outside of the house. Many people use a bucket to collect the water. But I highly suggest you to not do that as there is a lot of water in the tank. 

Now, locate the shut-off valve, which you can find at the cold water inlet line and shut it off. 

Next, open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house to let the system relieve the pressure inside the tank. 

Afterward, use the flat blade screwdriver to open the drain valve to let the water drain. 

Precautions: The water will be hot. So, be careful and ensure there is no one near the drain hose so that they don’t get scalded. 

Once all the water is drained out, close the drain valve and remove the hose from it. 

Step 3. Remove The Drain Valve & Replace It

Finally, pull out the drain valve using an adjustable wrench. Some additional water may come out once the drain valve is removed. So, get some rags or towels to wipe away the water spills. 

Now, you are ready to replace the drain valve. 

Use Teflon tape to seal the threads of the new drain valve. Lastly, install the valve and tighten it by hand and use the wrench to finish tightening. 

After completing the installation, ensure the new drain valve is at close position. You can now fill the water tank. Before that, make sure you open the cold water supply valve. Also, turn the hot water faucet off when you get a steady flow of water. And lastly, turn the power back on your water heater or the gas supply. 

You may need to relight the pilot. So, check the manual and relight the pilot light before starting the water heater. 

FAQs

Can you replace water heater drain valve without draining?

No, I don’t recommend you replace the water heater drain valve without draining. If you do so, water stored in the tank will leak and flood the floor or basement. It can even burn the skin if the water is hot.

Can you remove the plastic drain valve from the water heater?

Yes, you can remove the plastic drain valve from the water heater. But it’s a bit tricky to pull out the valve as it may break off as it’s fragile compared to the brass one. So, handle it gently.

Why is my water heater leaking from the drain valve?

If the drain valve gets deteriorated over time, water will come out of it. Therefore, if the gasket of the valve is at fault or gets cracked, water will leak into it. In this case, replacing the drain valve with a new one will be an easy solution.

How much does it cost to replace a drain valve on water heater?

The average price of a drain valve is $13 to $15. If you replace the valve professionally, you should spend between $100 to $150. However, you don’t need any additional skills to change the drain valve. Just follow the guides we mentioned to replace the Rheem water heater drain valve.

Where is the drain valve on a Rheem hot water heater?

The drain valve on a Rheem hot water heater is located at the lower part of the tank. Specifically, you can find it at the right side of the gas control valve on the bottom part of the tank.

Are all hot water drain valves the same size?

The standard size of water drain valves is ¾”. In short, most hot water drain valves come in this size.

End-Note

Any homeowner can replace the drain valve of his Rheem Water Heater. I broke down every step you need to follow to change the old drain valve. 

Here, I break it down briefly again to replace the Rheem water heater drain valve: 

• Turn off the electric supply or gas supply to your water heater. 
• Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of your hot water heater. Then, place the other end of the heater to the nearest floor drain.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to open the drain valve and let the water drain. 
• Use an adjustable wrench to remove the drain valve. 
• Replace the old drain valve with a new one and install it. 

Read Also:

• Rheem Water Heater Gas Valve Problem
• Rheem Water Heater Leaking
• Rheem Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting Manual