Broken water heater & plastic drain valve

[chouchou]

I recently had a flood in my apartment when the plastic drain valve on the water heater got bumped and it broke off. The landlord claims it was my fault but I don't think it was. The water heater was over 12 years old (never serviced during the 12 years I lived there), and the plastic on the valve was brittle.
I'd like some opinions on whose "fault" this was, from a plumber's point of view. Are plastic valves more apt to snap off than metal? Does the age of the water heater make a difference? Is the fact that it hadn't had any maintenance by the landlord a factor?
Thank you!
chouchou

 

[SewerRatz]

Plastic ones can break off easer than the brass ones, but with enough force either will break off.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

brittle plastic valves..

Rheem had a bunch of greyesh brown plastic drain valves
on a lot of older water heaters,,, they would get very brittle where they were threaded into the water heater...

lots of them will break of ffrom just something like a broom
drops on them....

then you have a massive flood....


that is why they went with brass valves...

 

[Gary Swart]

I don't know how you can prove how the valve actually was broken. Point is, it is broken so now what? I replaced my heater's plastic valve with a ball valve. Makes flushing the tank much easier. To do it, you'll have to remove the broken piece from the tank. If you damage the threads while doing that, you will need to chase them to be sure the new piece will screw in and seal. With that valve, I can dump a bunch of water in a hurry!