Helped a neighbor out

[Allen in MT]

One of the RV's in the park was experiencing only warm water comming from his hot water tank, so he has been using the propane and electric to get it hot enough. He had just bought the Motor Home a year ago. The Motor Home is a 2002. I asked him if he checked the hot water tank and changed the Anode rod. No he didn't know about it. I suggested that when he gets ready to do it to turn off the water and open a valvue to remover the pressure off the system. I saw he was getting ready so I popped over to give a hand. He didn't have a big enough socket so I got mine. When I took the plug out it was so plugged up that the water wouldn't even drip out. Got a coat hanger and put a 90 on the end and went to work. I had never seen big chunks as big as your little finger come out of a water heater. Took us a good 30 min using the spray nozzel and coat hanger to get it cleaned out and a new rod back. It was apparent that the previous owner had never changed it either. Now his wife is happy to have good hot water back on electric.
Now the guy next to him bought a new 2005 and has never changed his either. I told him to check because some tanks don't have a rod in them, so I don't know what he found as I haven't seen him for a couple of days.
Seems some people are never told about this.