Why doesn't my garden hose fit my water heater?

Question

To drain a water heater, you're supposed to attach a garden hose to the drain spigot. Mine seems to attach to it fine, but almost as much water leaks out there as goes through the hose. The same hose attached to a garden hose faucet is 100 percent leak-free. The problem is not related to the water temperature, because it happens when it's cold.

Answer 1

I have this problem every now and then when we're draining one in preparation for replacement.  My rule of thumb is if I can turn the hose in the end nut while it's on the drain then it's not tight enough not to leak.  Once you get it tight enough so the hose doesn't spin around in the nut it shouldn't leak anymore.  I figure if this same hose is leakproof on another hose end it must have the gasket in it.  

Answer 2

Double up on the rubber washer on the female hose end and use a slip joint pliers to tighten the connection.

Also verify that the drain spigot has hose thread, not NPT thread. If it's NPT thread, you need to get an adapter to hose thread.

Answer 3

there are a couple of options for you.  1st of all you might be missing the rubber gasket inside the female end of the hose.  If you are not, try putting on some Teflon tape around the threads on the water heater.  It should help stop the leaks.