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11-14-2020, 03:19 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: ladson,SC
Posts: 201
M.O.C. #26644
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Water Heater Anode---after only 4 months...WoW
I drained the water heater to flush as i normally do every few months ....
What i got was a shock as to the condition of the Anode rod after only 4 months....
When the rod gets full calcified ( limed up ) it will not longer conduct an electrical current that is used to prevent the tank from rusting out.
I wire brushed the rod clean ( still very pitted ) but i will replace as soon as i am able to due to the NARROWING just behind the pipe fitting...
The photo doesn't show the narrowing very well.
Don't want it breaking off and dropping into the tank. I have seen some rod actually get thinner than a pencil.
I believe the rod is in this condition because we have been saving propane by using the electrical heating element....
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11-14-2020, 06:02 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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I don't think it's bad at all.
__________________
2016 Montana 3711FL
2005 Ford F350, 6.0 diesel, short bed
Demco Hitchiker Auto Slide hitch
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11-14-2020, 06:05 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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Looks pretty good to me too. They are only good for a year or two, maybe three depending on use
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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11-14-2020, 06:26 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Frostbite Falls
Posts: 434
M.O.C. #26015
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They can't break off it has a steel rod in the middle.
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11-14-2020, 07:07 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: ladson,SC
Posts: 201
M.O.C. #26644
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phillyg
I don't think it's bad at all.
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once it completely INSULATES with calcium it will not function....unless you clean it off
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11-14-2020, 07:29 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Actually, been camping with water heaters for almost 40 years now and never done anything with the anode rood untill it was almost totally gone and have never had to replace a water heater. On the other hand only our Montana has one, our HC doesn't have a Suburban heater so it doesn't have one at all.
__________________
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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11-15-2020, 05:27 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForBruce
once it completely INSULATES with calcium it will not function....unless you clean it off
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick
Actually, been camping with water heaters for almost 40 years now and never done anything with the anode rood untill it was almost totally gone and have never had to replace a water heater. On the other hand only our Montana has one, our HC doesn't have a Suburban heater so it doesn't have one at all.
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I'm not sure your assumption about calcium is correct. I have never cleaned mine in 20 plus years of RV'ing and they have all just kept working. When they get down to almost just the steel rod I replace them.
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2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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11-15-2020, 07:04 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,590
M.O.C. #22835
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__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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11-15-2020, 08:53 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,167
M.O.C. #6433
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I agree it is normal. It will continue to function and continue to corrode until there is nothing left but the center steel rod if left in long enough.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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11-15-2020, 10:08 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 525
M.O.C. #19994
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I replace mine every year when de-winterizing, they are cheap.
__________________
The "Black Pearl"-2017 3731FL Legacy Package
2017 F-450 Platinum, 6.7 PSD
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11-15-2020, 03:14 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: ladson,SC
Posts: 201
M.O.C. #26644
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchmenSport
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the magnesium rods have the wire in the middle....the alum rod are solid
and it's a fact whether your heater last 20 years or 40 calcium does NOT conduct electricity
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11-15-2020, 03:38 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,167
M.O.C. #6433
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForBruce
the magnesium rods have the wire in the middle....the alum rod are solid
and it's a fact whether your heater last 20 years or 40 calcium does NOT conduct electricity
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If the calcium deposits stopped all conduction the rods would never erode down to the center wire. But in fact they do.
And also a fact, calcium does conduct electricity and could be used as a wire if a situation suited it.
https://lunarpedia.org/w/Electrical_Conductors
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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11-15-2020, 06:43 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,701
M.O.C. #12947
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Just cleaned out our water heater and installed a new magnesium anode. I then ordered a new Suburban magnesium rod to have for the next time, and the one came from Amazon a couple days later. It is a Suburban magnesium rod and instead of just a steel rod in the middle, this one has a stainless steel rod in the middle. I guess, new and improved. The photo is captured from the Amazon page for the Suburban aluminum anode, and the detail at the threaded end shows the weld for the steel rod down the middle like on the magnesium rods, so I'm thinking the genuine Suburban rods have the steel support rod. I saw a number of after market aluminum rods that do appear to not have that steel rod, so I would be a bit leary of using them.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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11-16-2020, 04:46 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
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Do you use your unit a lot ? If you are like us, we get out 40-60 nights a year and drain the heater after every trip. Install a combo drain valve/ anode if you are not using it VERY often.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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11-16-2020, 08:33 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,701
M.O.C. #12947
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We full time, 365 days a year, and I have never had to replace the magnesium anode more than once a year. I do, a couple times a year, pull the anode to flush the crud out of the tank, but the anode is still fine each time. I just wrap the threads with Teflon tape and screw it back in each time.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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11-18-2020, 07:01 PM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Blacksburg
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #20075
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That rod looks like a new one. I change mine annually and it's always smaller than a pencil.
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11-18-2020, 08:34 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2020
Location: UPLAND
Posts: 1,256
M.O.C. #26190
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Changed mine out today after servicing my axle bearings. Glad I did, it was worn. Flushed the tank out and it was pretty clean. Thank you Rohrmann. I ordered a pack of two magnesium ones from Amazon, and they arrived in two days. Mine was probably a little over a year old.
__________________
2019 Keystone Montana 3560RL, 2020 Chevy 2500 HD, Firestone airbags, Air Lift wireless compressor, Curt gooseneck, 20K Reese Goosebox, TST-507, USMC combat vet & retired LEO. Robert, Anika, Breanna, Dylan (daughter-in-law Stephanie). & our Great Pyrenees Layla
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11-20-2020, 10:02 AM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: ladson,SC
Posts: 201
M.O.C. #26644
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 432bartman
Changed mine out today after servicing my axle bearings. Glad I did, it was worn. Flushed the tank out and it was pretty clean. Thank you Rohrmann. I ordered a pack of two magnesium ones from Amazon, and they arrived in two days. Mine was probably a little over a year old.
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Thank you Rohrmann ?????...what am i chop liver..i started this thread
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11-22-2020, 01:26 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForBruce
I drained the water heater to flush as i normally do every few months ....
What i got was a shock as to the condition of the Anode rod after only 4 months....
When the rod gets full calcified ( limed up ) it will not longer conduct an electrical current that is used to prevent the tank from rusting out.
I wire brushed the rod clean ( still very pitted ) but i will replace as soon as i am able to due to the NARROWING just behind the pipe fitting...
The photo doesn't show the narrowing very well.
Don't want it breaking off and dropping into the tank. I have seen some rod actually get thinner than a pencil.
I believe the rod is in this condition because we have been saving propane by using the electrical heating element....
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That is almost brand new. Has nothing to do with propane/electric, it's water hardness. Do NOT wire brush, just wasting it that way. It does NOT conduct an electrical current.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
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11-22-2020, 01:29 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
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NOT true.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
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