vent plug screw

lenthomasphoto · Joined: 23 May 2014 Posts: 28

Quick question: I am about to order a new vent plug screw and o ring. Any pros and cons between the thumb screw and the flat head screw driver screw?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Ya can't trip, stub your toe, or bruise your heel on a flush screw.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

And, any penny, dime, or piece of metal can be used to open or close the slotted head.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Don't get the thumb screw. What they said, plus if you inadvertently knock it loose or break it, you'll have big problems.

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

Be sure to clean out the threads of the female plug, and definitely replace the O-ring. O-rings are designed not for the use they get in the vent plugs. Flat, compression washers are usually best for applications where the seal is created by pressure. Thus, our O-rings will tend to crack and leak with age, especially if you unscrew the plug then retighten.

Also, take care not to crush the O-ring with too much pressure. Just snug and then 1/4 turn will form a nice interface between the ring and the flat meeting spots on the screw and plug. Too much will cause a leak.

I speak from first hand experience to both issues.

tajella · Joined: 23 Oct 2001 Posts: 53

LeeD · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 1175

Any well equipped hardware store, Osh, HomeDepot, TrueValue, Ace...