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Old 01-18-2025, 05:23 PM   #1
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Sacrificial anode - must have ?

My coach never had an anode when I bought it the drain plug was plastic and I replaced that with a brass petcock. My electric element seems to be getting tired, which is cheap - but is it a bad idea to not have an anode ?
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Old 01-18-2025, 06:09 PM   #2
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Iceclimber-

1) Atwood water heaters (made with an aluminum tank) do not need an anode.
2) Suburban water heaters (made with a glass-lined steel tank) do need an anode.

Atwood sold its water heater product line to Dometic, who promptly killed the line, in favor of their own heater designs. I have no idea if the Dometics require an anode.
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Old 01-18-2025, 06:25 PM   #3
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No you don't want/need an anode for your Atwood.

You don't need that brass petcock either. It is a bad idea, for several reasons. It can cause corrosion, and makes it harder to flush tank. Not flushing tank may allow more corrosion to your electric element, which may be reason it is getting tired.

Take care of that water heater, as mentioned above, it is irreplaceable, and will need a retrofit, when replacing becomes necessary.
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Old 01-18-2025, 06:32 PM   #4
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Ah thanks. I have never flushed the tank guess I need one of those wand thingers. Elements are cheap I’ll just change it out. Oh and get rid of my fancy brass petcock.
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Old 01-18-2025, 07:54 PM   #5
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I just bought the metal wand from Amazon for $21.00 including tax. Ordered yesterday and received today.
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Old 01-18-2025, 10:10 PM   #6
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Quote:
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Ah thanks. I have never flushed the tank guess I need one of those wand thingers. Elements are cheap I’ll just change it out. Oh and get rid of my fancy brass petcock.
Definitely ditch the brass. I work for a large aluminum boat manufacturer and can tell you one of the worst metals you can have in contact with aluminum is brass. Also, don't use an aluminum plug. Aluminum is a very 'sticky' metal and an aluminum plug will seize in the threads and you won't get it back out. That's why it had a plastic plug.
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Old 01-19-2025, 08:50 PM   #7
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I am also one that have never flush their water heater nor did I realize I had to. Yesterday I drained the tank and put vinegar in it and let it sit over night. Today I flush the tank and was amazed how bad the tank was.
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Old 01-19-2025, 09:22 PM   #8
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Atwood (and Dometic) use a NYLON Drain Plug due to Aluminum Tanks

Drain hole is only 1/2"
When a wand is inserted thru drain hole it blocks the hole as most wands are 1/4"

Option:
Turn water supply off
Remove drain plug
Then turn on water supply full force......let it BLAST out
*Cold inlet dip tube points downward so incoming water will stir up the crud and BLAST it out the wide open drain hole

Atwood uses a 120VAC 1400W electric element.....
scale/calcium will build up on element especially if routine power flushing is not done

Vinegar soak is a method of removing scale/calcium build ups
*Atwood/Dometic recommend 4 gallons vinegar/2 gallons water (6 gal units) then turn on water heater and let it heat cycle 4-5 times (heat up/cool down repeat) then drain/rinse/power flush


10 gallon units----use 7 gallons vinegar/3 gallons water



Suburban uses a steel glass-lined tank therefore it requires a sacrificial anode rod to protect the steel tank
Anode rods are 3/4" NPT and can be OEM Magnesium or Optional Aluminum
*Just like a Residential water heater
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Old 01-20-2025, 10:38 PM   #9
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As I mentioned in a previous post I put vinegar in and let it sit over night. After draining the vinegar I also removed the pressure relief valve. I used my wand to go into the drain hole. Yes the water and crud will back up until you remove the wand. The crud will come out as the water comes out. I then went through the pressure relief hole to agitate inside the tank. This also brought more crud out. It took quite a few times insertions of the the wand in each whole till I got clear water. Water alone will not break up the calcium build up.
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Old 01-21-2025, 04:11 PM   #10
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Hmmm. I still have the 1/4 dia. water tank wand I bought in 1977, and have successfully used it on 5 motorhomes; all of which have had drain plugs larger than 1/2 inch. and allowed any crud to easily drain by removing the wand after flushing (with several repetitions). I kinda remember these plugs have been around 3/4 in, but I'm not gonna go out in the cold to check .

Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit View Post
Atwood (and Dometic) use a NYLON Drain Plug due to Aluminum Tanks

Drain hole is only 1/2"
When a wand is inserted thru drain hole it blocks the hole as most wands are 1/4"...
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Old 01-21-2025, 04:58 PM   #11
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Hey George; sounds like your water heaters have been Suburban, which has a 3/4 inch opening, and should have to remove the anode rod to drain.

Keep warm!
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Old 01-26-2025, 11:09 AM   #12
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Follow up I removed the tired 120v heating element which was probably the wrong one, very short. Also it was totally covered with white sediment and the tank needs a flush for sure. The Camco $15 element replacement works much better. That's a 1.5 inch socket by the way which is under $10, as opposed to those weak tube wrench things.
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Old 01-27-2025, 01:01 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit View Post
Atwood (and Dometic) use a NYLON Drain Plug due to Aluminum Tanks

Drain hole is only 1/2"
When a wand is inserted thru drain hole it blocks the hole as most wands are 1/4"

Option:
Turn water supply off
Remove drain plug
Then turn on water supply full force......let it BLAST out
*Cold inlet dip tube points downward so incoming water will stir up the crud and BLAST it out the wide open drain hole

Atwood uses a 120VAC 1400W electric element.....
scale/calcium will build up on element especially if routine power flushing is not done

Vinegar soak is a method of removing scale/calcium build ups
*Atwood/Dometic recommend 4 gallons vinegar/2 gallons water (6 gal units) then turn on water heater and let it heat cycle 4-5 times (heat up/cool down repeat) then drain/rinse/power flush


10 gallon units----use 7 gallons vinegar/3 gallons water



Suburban uses a steel glass-lined tank therefore it requires a sacrificial anode rod to protect the steel tank
Anode rods are 3/4" NPT and can be OEM Magnesium or Optional Aluminum
*Just like a Residential water heater
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Old 01-27-2025, 01:16 AM   #14
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Suburban tank when you remove the rod inspect the anode. Reference the owner manual for drawing of rod usage and when to replace. You will need a 1 1/8 inch socket, some extensions and breaker bar.
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