Camco RV Water Heater Drain Plug and Wrench Kit | Designed for RV & Camper Water Heater Drain Plugs | Fits 7/8" & 15/16" Drain Plugs | Angled Design Allows You to Reach Tight Spots

I keep a small pouch of winterizing tools in my RV, and the piece I reach for most often is Camco’s drain plug and wrench kit. It’s a simple, compact solution for a job that can be awkward: pulling and reinstalling the water heater drain plug without skinned knuckles, stripped plastic, or a parade of extensions and adapters.

What’s in the kit

• Angled, double-ended wrench with 7/8" on one side and 15/16" on the other
• Two 1/2" NPT replacement drain plugs (nylon)
• A small roll of PTFE (Teflon) thread tape
• Prongs built into the wrench for operating drain valves/petcocks

It’s an all-in-one bundle aimed squarely at Atwood/Dometic-style RV water heaters that use nylon 1/2" NPT plugs.

Design and ergonomics

The wrench is an offset, double-ended design made from a sturdy composite. The offset is the hero here: it lets you sneak around framing, housings, and other hardware to actually get onto the plug. On my rig, space is limited and a normal ratchet/socket setup is doable but clumsy; this tool slots in without a lot of contortion.

Each end mates to a different common hex size—7/8" or 15/16"—so you can flip ends depending on your plug. The outer faces of the wrench are rounded and reasonably comfortable in hand, even when you need to lean into it a bit. The built-in prongs are a small but thoughtful touch if you’re dealing with petcock-style drains.

There’s a tradeoff with the form factor: because the wrench is compact and non-ratcheting, you often work in short swings, repositioning after each stroke. In very tight hatches this can actually be faster than trying to cram a ratchet and extension into the same space, but it does require a little patience at first.

In use: tight access is where it shines

On my Atwood/Dometic heater, the drain plug sits partially obscured by adjacent hardware. A conventional deep-well socket and extension can reach it, but my knuckles pay the price and the angle is never great. The Camco wrench got onto the plug head cleanly. I had to start with small arcs—just a few degrees at a time—until I’d broken the plug loose, then I could angle the wrench slightly to get longer sweeps. Once you learn the “approach angle” for your particular layout, removal and reinstallation become routine.

Reinstalling with the included nylon plugs is straightforward. The 7/8" end of the wrench fit the replacement plugs perfectly, and the 15/16" end fit my OEM plug. The tool gives you decent control so you don’t over-torque the nylon—important, because overtightening nylon plugs is a quick way to damage threads or deform the head.

The prongs came in handy on a friend’s older unit with a petcock drain. It’s not a feature everyone will use, but it’s better than fumbling for needle-nose pliers.

Compatibility check (important)

This tool is intended for RV water heaters that use 1/2" NPT nylon drain plugs with 7/8" or 15/16" hex heads—most commonly Atwood/Dometic. If your heater is a Suburban model with an anode rod, you’ll typically need a 1-1/16" socket for that hex head instead, and this wrench won’t fit. If you’re unsure, look up your heater model and the plug/anode spec before buying or keep a 1-1/16" socket in your kit as a fallback.

One small quirk: your factory plug might be a different hex size than the included replacements. That’s not a thread mismatch—both are 1/2" NPT—it just means you’ll swap wrench ends when moving between OEM and replacement plugs.

Build quality and durability

The wrench is a molded composite, not steel. For nylon plugs, that’s actually an advantage: it’s less likely to mar or chew up soft plug heads. I’ve had no issues with durability across seasonal service—loosening stubborn plugs, snugging new ones—though I’m mindful not to reef on it like a breaker bar. If your plug is seized or cross-threaded, a metal socket on a ratchet will offer more raw torque. For typical maintenance, the Camco tool feels plenty robust.

The plugs are what they should be: lightweight nylon, cleanly molded, and a good fit in the 1/2" NPT threads. The included PTFE tape is a small roll but adequate for multiple changes.

The included plugs and tape

The two replacement plugs are worth having on hand. Nylon can get rounded off if someone previously overtightened or used the wrong tool, and it’s nice to swap in a fresh plug rather than fight a damaged one. The PTFE tape is a thoughtful inclusion. Wrap direction matters—clockwise as you face the threaded end—so the tape tightens rather than unwinds as you screw the plug in. Two to three wraps were enough to eliminate weeping in my heater.

Practical tips from the field

• Kill power/gas and relieve pressure: Open a hot-water faucet inside first. A pressurized tank will fight you and can launch a plug.
• Use the right end: Try 15/16" on many OEM Atwood/Dometic plugs; the included replacements are often 7/8".
• Short strokes, frequent re-grips: Especially at first breakaway. Once the plug loosens, you can speed up.
• Don’t overtighten nylon: Snug plus a touch more. Nylon plugs seal with thread tape; they don’t need gorilla torque.
• Keep a metal socket as a backup: A deep 15/16" or 7/8" with a short extension covers the rare stubborn plug; a 1-1/16" socket is essential if you service Suburban anode rods.
• Bag the kit together: I keep the wrench, spare plugs, tape, and a flush wand in one pouch for winterizing and descaling days.

Where it falls short

• Not universal: If you’re working on Suburban heaters with anode rods, this isn’t the right tool.
• Limited leverage: The compact body and composite construction aren’t designed for high-torque heroics. For severely stuck plugs, a metal socket wins.
• No ratcheting: You’ll reposition after each sweep. In cramped spaces that’s fine; in open spaces a ratchet is faster.

None of these are deal-breakers for its intended use, but they’re worth noting.

Value and use cases

For routine maintenance—winterizing, flushing sediment, or descaling—the Camco kit covers the bases with a purpose-built wrench, spare plugs, and tape. It’s inexpensive insurance to keep in the RV, and it’s particularly helpful on rigs where the drain plug is tucked behind trim or appliances. If your heater is an Atwood/Dometic and the access is even mildly awkward, the offset design pays for itself the first time you use it.

If you primarily service Suburban heaters, skip this and get a good 1-1/16" socket and anode rod instead. Different job, different tool.

Bottom line

The Camco drain plug and wrench kit is a thoughtfully simple solution for the very specific, very common challenge of accessing RV water heater drain plugs in tight quarters. The angled, dual-size wrench makes the task cleaner and quicker than wrestling a ratchet in cramped hatches, the spare nylon plugs are handy to have, and the included PTFE tape means you can reseal immediately.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit for owners of Atwood/Dometic RV water heaters that use 1/2" NPT nylon drain plugs, especially if access is tight. It’s compact, effective, and gentle on nylon plug heads. If you run a Suburban heater with an anode rod or routinely encounter seized plugs, pair or replace it with a metal socket set in the correct size. For its intended application, it’s a practical, budget-friendly addition to the RV maintenance bag.