Hot water tank drain valve

[RONR]

So we are getting ready to head out for a few weeks and while sanitizing the water system I find a small leak in the hot water drain valve. The is the horizontal valve under the water pump (at least on my Grandby).

I know the hose clamp on the right side of the valve but what the heck is the other clamp? I searched WTW and found one thread but I really didn’t understand it except that this clamp is a PEX and needs special $100 tool for the clamp.

My two questions are does anyone know what the valve is called so I can look to order it and any suggestions on how to do a replacement of said valve given the PEX clamps?

 

[Vic Harder]

Those are PEX 1/2" (probably) clamps. There are tools to remove the clamps. Could you rent the tools if you don't want to buy them?

 

[RONR]

Thanks Vic. Renting is a good idea but I did more research last night and Amazon does have them for much less than a hundred. But now that I’ve researched it more, it looks like it may be quite a job to get in there and replace that valve. There’s not much room to work with such a big tool. I have a call into FWC to get a name for the valve. Thanks again

 

[Ted]

I am not a fan of PEX. A number of years ago the cold water handle on the faucet in our Hawk broke. The faucet had a hot water handle also but nothing was hooked up to it as we did not have a hot water heater. I thought, No problem, I will just run the water to the hot water handle. That is when I discovered the world had dropped PVC pipes and connections and moved to PEX. Even the house we bought four years ago is all PEX. PVC was so much easier to work on and I don't know any advantages that PEX has over it, so I'm not sure why the change happened.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Ted, my understanding is PEX typically survives freezing.

 

[Ted]

Ted, my understanding is PEX typically survives freezing.

Well, that is a definite advantage in rigs like ours.

 

[SLEDAWG]

I’ve repaired my pex using sharkbite fittings from Home Depot. Just cut the pipe and slip the fitting on. Use braided water hose and valves for sinks. I recently had a leak and replaced the drain valve.