Does the drain fitting unscrew from water heater body?

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CountryBumkin

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I bought a Rheem Fury 65 (83VR662) electric water heater. It is installed, but now I want to add a dedicated hot water loop for the master bathroom. I have already plumbed a return line from when the batroom was remodeled. I have a Grundfos UP10 recirculation pump.

I read that it would be best to connect the hot water return line to the bottom of the water heater (rather than at the top Cold water inlet). Therefore I need to remove the water tank's drain and replace with a tee-fitting (one side to return line the other for the manual drain valve).

Does the drain fitting just unscrew? I don't want to chance breaking the drain fitting off in the tank if it is somehow welded or glued in place.
 

Gary Swart

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Yes, it does unscrew. Many of us replace the OEM drain with a full flow ball valve. My recirculating system also uses this as a connection point.

water_heater_drains.jpg
 
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Jadnashua

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When installed at the factory, often my machine, it may be a bit tighter than you'd do by hand!
 

CountryBumkin

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Thanks for the dose of reality.
My WH is a year old so hopefully the drain fitting threads have not seized to the tank yet.
I'm wanting to add a hot water recirculation system - so I need to plumb-in the return line to the WH (at the bottom). I have all the parts (some of them I've had since before the WH was bought). It's just a matter of getting the job done now.
 
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