Water heater anode rod

[rhidalgo]

Just recently winterized and in doing so removed the water heater drain plug/anode rod. We just got the camper new in September and it has only been used for two weeks so I was a bit surprised to find a considerable amount of consumption of the anode. There is still approximately 90% of the anode remaining but what concerns me is that the part that is missing is mostly near the steel plug and my question is will the magnesium continue to be consumed near the plug until the remainder falls off inside the tank or is the core of the anode made of something other than magnesium so that it would remain intact while the magnesium around it is consumed?

[K&Gs3400RL]

I think thats normal, I have noticed thats the area that disappears first on mine also.

[Phil P]

Hi

We just changed ours. There is a steel rod thru the center on the zinc.

Phil P

[ols1932]

I think you'll find that what you're seeing is fairly normal. The amount of deterioration of the rod depends on the quality of the water flowing through the water heater. Sometimes you'll discover that the rod material disappears rather rapidly (that's what's keeping the internal tank of the water heater intact) and other times it disappears slowly (if you've been in good water).

Orv

[BB_TX]

Our first one (the original) did the same thing. But as stated the center rod does not get consumed. It will remain and hold whatever is left.

[rhidalgo]

A steel rod through the center --- that's the answer I was looking for. I'll continue using this one until it's considerable more deteriorated. Thanks for the help guys.

Raymond

[Art-n-Marge]

Used for only two weeks! Wow! You must have camped where the water was very hard (high mineral content). My first one went within 3 years. I am on my second one and the rig is 6 years old and this one is holding up far better. However I can't tell you how many days or months in total the HW water has been used, but it does depend on the water supply and I started draining the tank when being stored and think this has also helped.

It is HIGHLY recommended you get or build a cleanout nozzle for the hot water heater. I bought a cheapie made of plastic and it is well worth the money. I've read that others have used homemade ones out of metal.

After draining your tank there will be some water and lots of residue from this anode rod at the bottom of the tank - the anode rod stuff has to go somewhere and it's typically at the bottom of the tank. Using a hose and this cleanout nozzle you can blast this junk out of there. It works amazingly well but you can imagine it might take a while to work all the debris out of there. I drain my HW tank during storage and clean it out real well, then replace the plug with the anode rod to keep the HW tank sealed. When using the rig once again, make sure you allow time for the HW tank to refill prior turning on the heating elements (electric switch or propane switch).

I don't need to winterize but maybe someone can add how to remove the remaining water at the bottom of the tank. I've always wondered why the HW tank designers don't account for this water not able to be removed easily but in the meantime I just leave it there. Does anyone have any ideas for this phenomenon? Would finding a way to attach the cleanout nozzle to a shop vac work, then suck it out? Does anyone else just leave the water there? Should I make this a new topic?