Good time to replace zinc in water heater

[Drifty1]

Well I broke down today and blew my water lines out and run some antifreeze Thu them. When I drained my heater by pulling out the anode I found well used anode. As I bought this rig in July I did not have a reason to drain the heater. Figured I would remind everyone to at least check once a year.
Link to photos of anode http://picasaweb.google.com/Drifty1/...09471416293762

[Jolu]

Wow! That hummer is done in for. In such a short time also. I guess I should ask was the rig new?

[Drifty1]

No it is a 2002. I should of said that in my post. the rig was last used by a guy that spent 3 years building a house so it was used full time. I am sure he never had to drain it as the rig was heated year round. I am going out to pull my check on the heater to see if that is bad also.
Larry in Olympia

[kdeiss]

When we camped at a CG with well water we replaced rod every two years.Now with city water it has been 5 years still looks good.So it depends on the water

[capn chris]

Same as kdeiss. Ours is original on the 2005, and still OK. Carry a spare just in case. The picture sure illustrates how they're supposed to work!

[Clyde n Deb]

I always start each season with a new rod. Keeps it simple, no forgets. Flush 2-3 times during the season.

[Tom S.]

I'm not sure why, but ever since I installed a whole house water filter on the trailer, the anode rod has held up very well.

[Champ_49]

What does the zinc rod do really. Is it mandatory to have? Reason I asked, mine got bad the very first year and I did not replace it. Actually what I did was replace it with a outside water spigot, to drain the tank.

Anyone find a problem with doing this, or is it that important? It seems almost dumb asking, because it is in there, but is it really a necessity?

Dave

[Art-n-Marge]

That is not a dumb question. In fact, if inquiring about the importance of the anode, I would call that a very smart question.
The anode rod is very much a necessity.

"An anode rod is necessary because it prevents any corrosion of a water heater's metal lining. As long as a serviceable anode rod is installed, the metal of the rod will wear away instead of the water heater lining. The anode rod produces an electro-chemical reaction within the water, which protects the water heater."

There is also one in your stickhouse water heater. More times than not your house water heater failure was caused by not checking and replacing it and the water heater body corroded because of it.

In the case of an RV, since the water sources vary as does the water condition, the recommendation is that it is replaced every 1 to 2 years and inspected every 6 months.

I have replaced mine twice and I prefer to find mine in better shape than what Drifty1's showed because when it's that bad, there is a good chance that other parts of the water heater are starting to take the damage. I hope it was caught just in time. Remember, once any part of the water heater starts to corrode it doesn't uncorrode if you fix what was causing it.

Water filtration systems or softeners will definitely prolong the life of the anode and therefore the heater.

[KTManiac]

It is a sacrificial rod, it takes the brunt of electrolysis that occurs between the dissimilar metals of the water heater, and corrosion caused by minerals & salts in the water. It corrodes away so that your hot water tank lining won't.

[noneck]

AND for those of us that have Suburban ceramic lined HW Units it protects the Electric element just so you don't think its not necessary for that version.