Drain Valve Type On New House Water Heater ?

I have a one year old Rheem water heater that has the same thing. You can turn it with a screwdriver.

Same on my recently installed new water heater. Maybe the mfr is saving money by not installing a faucet handle- or discouraging owners from draining out a few gallons every few months.

My first thought is it's probably a safety improvement, to prevent a child from finding it and opening it.

Aparently in some places it is a "safety requirement" so kids can't accidently, while playing around, open the valve and scald themselves. My 2011 GE has the same.

At least mine is BRASS, unlike the cheap plastic crap on my last one

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As long as you have "good" water, brass is fine but if you have well water like mine you should throw that brass one away before you install the heater and put in a plastic "boiler" valve. Otherwise, in a year or two it won't be a valve anymore. It will just be a plug.

It does make me wonder why that valve in the water heater is any more dangerous for kids than the one in the kitchen sink tho. These nanny state assholes are out of control.

Because toddlers crawl around on floors, obviously.

lkittle kids who cannot reach the kitchen tap can reach the drain valve and it is SO inviting with the handle - and the scalding hot water is IMMEDIATE.

In kitchen sink it takes a few seconds to get that hot -