HMP011 LF Brass 3/4" MNPT Water Heater Drain/Flush Valve(Full Port, Ball Valve, 3 inch Shank, 180 degree Handle W/Garden Hose Cap and Thread Tape)

I purchased this House Mods brass drain valve for my water heater, and it worked perfectly for exactly what I needed. The full-port ball valve design is a great upgrade from the standard factory valve, allowing for much better flow when flushing the tank. Installation was straightforward, and the brass construction feels very durable. I highly recommend this product if you are looking to replace or upgrade your water heater drain valve

I have been flushing my water heater about once per year due to the hard water where I live. This past December I finally decided to replace the anode rod in my five-year old water heater and was horrified to find it eroded to just the wire. Right then and there I knew two things: 1. I needed to replace my anode rod on an annual basis to start, and, 2. I needed to upgrade the tiny valve on my water heater for more efficient flushing. This looked like a good candidate. What I like: - Nice and weighty. Feels well- made. - Super simple to install. Took less than five minutes with very little cleanup. What I don't like: - This isn't a problem with the valve, but I didn't realize this company offered a straight version. I would have preferred that rather than the slightly angled one I bought. The angle offers no additional benefit and the straight version would have made it easier to push a small brush or host into the water heater itself if I had the desire to do so. My fault. Really nice valve. Other than not choosing the right one, I'm very pleased with it. RECOMMENDED.

Great item. Drains so nice now

It gets the job done, but quality control gotta step it up a notch. For what I paid, it could have at least a correctly stamped handle. At least no one will see it since my water heater is in the basement.

I had to replace my water heater and asked that the installer use the ball valve I had installed on the old water heater. They said OK. But after they took out the old heater and had completely installed the new one I was told they couldn't do that and I would have to use a screw driver to turn the water heater valve to drain water and sediment. That wouldn't have bothered me so much 30 years ago but I am 74 years old and I would have to get my reading glasses to see the slot to use a screw driver and that bothered me a lot. So when their office called me to ask how I liked my $1800 water heater I told her about this. They agreed to install a valve that I could see and turn by hand. Meanwhile I still wasn't convinced that I would be happy with what they were going to use so I ordered this valve. The installer came out and sure enough he brought a faucet valve with a rubber washer that I knew would not stand up to the water heater heat for any length of time. So I explained that situation to him and handed him this valve to install (I didn't want to void my warranty by installing it myself.) I am VERY pleased with this valve. It is a ball valve so there is no rubber washer to deteriorate. I don't have to get my glasses to see the big red handle used to open the valve and the valve opens fully to flush crud out of the bottom of the heater. Success at last!

Should be standard for all new hot water heaters. The valves that come on hot water heaters have too small an opening to properly flush them. This valve has a much bigger opening, allowing mineral deposits to flush out easier. It was a pain to remove the old plastic valve. My pipe wrench had too big of a head. Channel locks wouldn't budge it. I had to get a self adjusting pipe wrench to break it loose. That had a slimmer head to it and could get a grip on the valve. I have a blanket on my hot water heater, so this longer shank valve worked perfect. TIP: When removing the old valve, use a utility knife to slit one side of the plastic collar to get that out of the way and maximize the valve area to get a grip on. Once the new valve is in, it's easy to put that collar around it.

Rugged built

I installed this flush valve into an AO Smith brand gas water heater in my house to simplify and improve the drainage of the heater during annual maintenance. Note that this fitting meets the NSF standard 61 which establishes minimum criteria for evaluating the health effects of materials, components, products, and systems in contact with drinking water as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act of 2014. The first photograph is the original valve upon removal. The second picture is the House Mods valve after installation. The valve has an inside diameter of 3/4 inch (19mm) which is much larger then the minimum diameter of the valve that was installed by AO Smith. Not only does this reduce the time needed to drain the tank but also facilitates the removal of sediments. The lever handle to open the valve is simple to use and requires only a 90 degree turn of the handle. The original valve requires a slotted screw driver into rotate the valve open. Installation was straight forward and there are several good videos on YouTube that describe the necessary steps for anyone who is not familiar with the installation process. I would recommend using a pipe wrench which give better leverage than tongue and grove pliers (eg. Channel Lock pliers) to ease removal and installation. Note that both the House Mods brand valve and the factory original valve are made in China.

Good product and huge flow to come out the residue on my drain valve..

I replaced a leaking plastic (original) hot water tank drain with this brass 3/4 full flow valve and cap. It was easy to change. The flow is incredible out of this valve with no obstructions (like the original). All tanks should come with this valve.

The plastic one included with the hot water tank must have warped and I had a leak. I don't go into basement often so it was a significant amount of water that had leaked out by the time I discovered it. Super easy to replace. Next hot water tank will get one of these immediately upon installation. No more plastic valve

Solid material good quality

Seems like a good quality unit. Flows well. As expected with the larger inside pipe diameter.