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01-07-2019, 01:43 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: No Town
Posts: 432
M.O.C. #19482
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Question about Anode Rod
I went to change out the anode rod today as it has been 10 months since I last changed it. The rod I took out looks great! Very little deterioration. The first one I changed out after 6 months of use and there was very little of the rod left. The only differences are we have been away from the limestone water and I replaced the one that came in the rig with a much better/higher quality rod.
What is your take on the difference? How often do you change yours?
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Don & Ann Wheeler:
2017 Montana 3791RD, 2017 RAM 3500 Diesel Dually, Aisin, 4.10, Sailuns, Disk Brakes, TST TPMS.
Don: USAF Ret., Fighter Pilot - Vietnam Vet '66-'67 & Ann: Ret., Texas A&M Ph.D.
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01-07-2019, 02:19 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,172
M.O.C. #6433
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A magnesium rod will erode much faster than an aluminum/zinc rod. A rod with no erosion is not doing its job. Do you know which rods you had?
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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01-07-2019, 03:29 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,702
M.O.C. #12947
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This is from the Suburban manual-
NOTE: Water with high levels of iron and/or sulfate will increase the rate of deterioration; therefore, more frequent replacement may be required. If anode rod is mostly eaten away, replace it with a new one.
The Suburban magnesium rod is part number 232767
The Suburban aluminum rod is part number 232768
If you replaced the original rod with an aluminum rod, like was said, it won't sacrifice itself to protect the steel tank. An anode rod replacement every 12 months is way cheaper than risking having to replace the water heater due to a leak caused by corrosion. I use only the magnesium rod, and some years the rod is mostly gone and others it is maybe half gone. Just depends on what water runs through the water heater.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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01-07-2019, 08:58 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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It really depends on your water. We have RO water or use a softener and change them every other year.
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Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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01-08-2019, 06:27 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Full Timer In Naples, Florida
Posts: 1,049
M.O.C. #15731
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My understanding is you change to an aluminum rod if you are having to change it very frequently or you have the rotten egg smell.
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2017, 3500 Ram Big Horn, 4x4, Crew Cab, DRW, Aisin Transmission, 4:10. Curt Q20, 2014 Mountaineer 331 RLT, Sailun's on the rv and truck.
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01-08-2019, 07:18 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Our 5er's HW heater is an Atwood so no anode rod.
Our S&B has a Rheem HW heater with a magnesium anode rod. I just changed it on Sunday after ~5 years and it was just starting to go so replaced it in kind. The last HW heater was a Whirlpool (PO junk!) nad it would use up an aluminum anode completely to the steel wire in about 2 years. Water quality is the same since it comes from the same town spuces.
One note about excess aluminum that researchers are finding is that it is linked to dementia and Alzheimer's
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Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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01-08-2019, 07:24 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 321
M.O.C. #17521
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When i replaced mine I shot water into the tank and you wouldn't believe how much junk was in the bottom of the tank. I have a pressure nozzle for my hose that shoots a small stream of water. So if you have the rod out than flush the tank.
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01-08-2019, 05:06 PM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Nicholson
Posts: 67
M.O.C. #20168
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I am on my fourth 5th wheel since 1980. (First Montana 2018 3731FL). I have make it a habit to change the anode rod the first week of May and never had a problem with a water heater in any brand camper. A small investment given the cost of replacing a water heater.
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01-09-2019, 05:48 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
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Gosh, I've never changed the rod on any of my trailers. I guess I should every once in a while.:-)
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01-09-2019, 07:02 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 321
M.O.C. #17521
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I also put Teflon tape on the threads.
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01-09-2019, 07:29 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,172
M.O.C. #6433
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bone
I also put Teflon tape on the threads.
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X2. And being pipe threads, you do not need to over tighten it. Lightly tighten it and it will not leak, and will come out easy next time.
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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01-13-2019, 01:29 PM
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#12
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: South Ogden
Posts: 1
M.O.C. #22385
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RE Question about Anode Rod
The Anode Rod prevents tank erosion from electrolysis. It is my understanding that the rod deteriorates by shorting the electrolysis through the rod to ground. Using an over abundance of Teflon tape will interrupt the threads passing the electric current to ground and there will be no effect from having the rod in place. Three wraps is plenty and will allow the threads to cut through and make contact to complete the circuit.
Grant
2011 2955RL
2017 Silverado 2500HD
South Ogden, UT
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01-13-2019, 04:52 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,702
M.O.C. #12947
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By the time you tighten the rod enough to keep it from leaking with the tapered pipe threads, the Teflon tape will have moved enough to allow the metal threads to make metal to metal contact. Even with five or six wraps I have never had the anode not make contact and not work.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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01-13-2019, 05:09 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tucson
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #18460
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The instructions that came with my replacement Suburban 232767 anode rod say to use teflon tape when installing it. I'm sure that even with the teflon tape there's plenty of tread that cuts through sand makes metal-metal contact.
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-Ray
2012 Montana 3750FL
2016 Ram 3500 6.7L Turbo Diesel 4x2 SRW CC LB
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01-14-2019, 04:50 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann
By the time you tighten the rod enough to keep it from leaking with the tapered pipe threads, the Teflon tape will have moved enough to allow the metal threads to make metal to metal contact. Even with five or six wraps I have never had the anode not make contact and not work.
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Exactly why I generally use a Teflon based lbrush on sealant.Those seldom if ever leak. Teflon tape - probably 50-75% through the wadded up and now stringy stuff
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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01-14-2019, 08:19 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,172
M.O.C. #6433
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W
Exactly why I generally use a Teflon based lbrush on sealant.Those seldom if ever leak. Teflon tape - probably 50-75% through the wadded up and now stringy stuff
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I have never had a leak using Teflon tape on pipe threads. Not to say it doesn’t happen. But 50-75% I think is a tad high.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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01-15-2019, 05:15 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BB_TX
I have never had a leak using Teflon tape on pipe threads. Not to say it doesn’t happen. But 50-75% I think is a tad high.
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That's my experience, not necessarily other folks. With a Teflon paste type seal, Real-Tuff or RTectorseal (current bottle), I virtually never have leaks.
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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