Remember to check your Anode Rod when de-winterizing

[WesWesthaver]

FYI: When de-winterizing, be sure to check your water heater's anode rod. Here's a picture of my old anode rod (on the left) after 2 summers of use and the new one on the right:



The sacrificial anode is a metal rod usually made of magnesium or aluminum which helps prevent corrosion of the electric water heaters tank. Electrolysis eats away the anode instead of the tank.

Once the anode is completely gone the tank itself begins to corrode, so you should check your anode and replace it if needed.

Mine didn't need to be replaced since there's still a good deal of material left on it but a new one is cheap insurance so I swapped it out.

[WesWesthaver]

FYI: When de-winterizing, be sure to check your water heater's anode rod. Here's a picture of my old anode rod (on the left) after 2 summers of use and the new one on the right:



The sacrificial anode is a metal rod usually made of magnesium or aluminum which helps prevent corrosion of the electric water heaters tank. Electrolysis eats away the anode instead of the tank.

Once the anode is completely gone the tank itself begins to corrode, so you should check your anode and replace it if needed.

Mine didn't need to be replaced since there's still a good deal of material left on it but a new one is cheap insurance so I swapped it out.

[ISLAPP]

Good information. However, I think it should be noted here that if you have an Atwood tank, which most of us do, that Atwood will void their warranty if you use an Anode rod. I do believe there is nothing in their literature that says that, but I had reason to call them a year or so ago and the subject came up. They said their lining of the tank can be harmed by the rod.
So you decide. Just passing on what "they" said!!
Mike

[Cruzer]

Suburban water heaters use a steel tank, therefore the anode rod is used to control rust and corrosion in the tank. Attwood water heaters use an aluminum tank, therefore don't need (nor do they want) an anode rod. If you're not sure what you have, the Suburban has reset switches on the front of the tank where they are accessible and the Attwood makes you reach around the back.

My Suncruiser had an Attwood so I never had to deal with the anode rod thing but I had to crawl in and reset the thing a few times when the thermal reset popped. My Allegro Bus uses the Suburban, which doesn't have the reset problem but now I have the anode issue to deal with. They only run around $7-8 so I just get one over winter and replace it every spring. If it does go too far it can corode and fall off, rattling around in the tank, which is not too good. Throwing it out every year as part of de-winterizing is cheap insurance.