Hot water heater anode rod....

[jrgwdenner]

We've been a bit slow to change out our anode rod so we recently had a BIG surprise. Glen pulled it out and it was so covered with junk that we were shocked. It was allowing sediment to get into our water lines and plug up our faucets. From now on, we'll check it every six months or so and have a much better waterflow to the sinks and shower.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Sorry Judy but a working annode rod is supposed to look like that.



This was my annode rod after over a year of usage and as it still had some life to it I put it back in. I repaced it about 4 weeks later.

[richfaa]

When you look at that nasty anode rod you sort of panic but the nastier it looks the better it is working.

[ols1932]

Judy,
Don't be alarmed by that. Be happy. It's working. When it gets down to the size next to the threads, then change it.

Orv

[jrgwdenner]

Well, ours was worse than one in the picture so it must have been a jewel. Maybe it was cleaning/flushing the system that made us enjoy hotter hot water. So where is the sediment coming from? Are you saying that the longer you use it and the more crude that accumulates the better?

[ols1932]

Actually Judy, it isn't crud you're seeing accumulating on the rod. What you're seeing is the rod being eaten away. That's what protects the inside of your hot water heater. The rod attracts the bad things in the water and allows itself to be eaten up by them. It's a manufacturing thing that saves the hot water heater. Don't know if I explained this well or not, but that's what happens.

Orv

[Okie Guy]

I was curious about the rod myself. I knew it was ther enad I would take it out and clean it on the wire wheel in my shop about every two months. Should I be doing this?

[DONnANNIE]

jrgwdenner, as I recall the owners manual recommends the hot water tank be flushed out 2-3 times a year. That way you flush out the loose sediment on the bottom of the tank before it solidifies.

A RV Service Mgr said in maintenance class that I attended recently, that the anode didn't need to be replaced until it was nearly gone. He also emphasized the importance of flushing the HW tank out.

[gojodo]

When we purchased our first Class C, it had been sitting in Florida for two and a half years with water in the tank. When I pulled the anode rod it was ready for replacement, it looked like a thin pencil. That's when it really doesn't work any more. John

[jrgwdenner]

I guess we should have kept our superior anode rod! It was probably the flushing that did the trick.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by Okie Guy

I was curious about the rod myself. I knew it was ther enad I would take it out and clean it on the wire wheel in my shop about every two months. Should I be doing this?

I wouldn't clean it on the wire wheel for fear I would remove some of the "good" stuff. The stuff in the water will eat it off the rod.

Orv

[texdeano]

I said this one other time when anode rods were being discussed but will say again that if you were to stay in Yuma very long you sure better check it as mine was new when I got there and completely eat up when I checked it 4 months later

[rickety]

I change my anode every 6 months and the element every year. I don't clean it on a wire wheel, bad idea, takes off the zinc, thereby cutting the life even more.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by rickety

I change my anode every 6 months and the element every year. I don't clean it on a wire wheel, bad idea, takes off the zinc, thereby cutting the life even more.

I would imagine it depends on where you get your water from. We haven't had to replace a rod more than once every 14-15 months and that's with everyday use.

ORv

[EagleRunner]

The krud you are seeing is not from the anode. Hard water is the culprit and that comes from the calcium deposits in the water. The harder the water the more the anode has to work and sacrifice itself. That's its job - protect the tank and the heater element from the calcium. Its a good thing to see the anode rod catching the punishment; better the anode rod than the tank and/or heater element!

EagleRunner

[Glenn and Lorraine]

quote:Originally posted by Okie Guy

I was curious about the rod myself. I knew it was ther enad I would take it out and clean it on the wire wheel in my shop about every two months. Should I be doing this?

Plain and simple....NO.

After 3 years of experience with this rig I now check the anode about every six months. For those that winterize this is when I would recommend checking it but only replace it if it is more the 2/3rds gone.

[jsrang]

I replaced mine after 2 years (following the great wisdom that we received at the MOC Rally in Sept), and it was down to almost bare wire. I now have mine scheduled to check it annually and see what it looks like at that time.