anode hot water heater question

[Happycamperscolorado]

well i when to put the anode in the hot water heater for the 1st time in this rv. put a little plumbs tape on and started to screw it in. well the threads on this anode are about a 1 inch long but i could not get it to thread in very far. maybe a 1/4 in. the anode i brand new and the thread in the heater are pretty clean and not gummed up with rust or calcium. am i reading to much into this? should that be how far it should go in or am i going to have to rethread it somehow?

[tweber502]

That's about all the farther mine goes in. Fill tank, pressurize system and check for leaks, retighten if needed. Then you should be good to go. Tim

[psomers]

As I'm sure you know the threads are pipe threads and the threads are tapered. It gets tighter the more it's screwed in. How far in was your old anode? If it was threaded in father maybe you got a bad one that the thread weren't cut in far enough.

[Happycamperscolorado]

dealer pulled the old one out before we bought it and left a new one sitting on hot water heater for me to screw in. so using a tap is a no no then?

[psomers]

I wouldn't wont to tap my hot water heater unless I was sure it wasn't properly taped. I just walked out and measure how far my anode sticks out and it measures 7/16". Does yours stick out more than that?

[Happycamperscolorado]

about 7/16 right now. i took out the anode and recleaned the threads with my dremel with a small wire circular brush on it. seems to have helped.
just thinking there has to be a better way for cleaning these threads up.

[psomers]

Sounds like you are probably ok. No way you could possibly have cross threaded the anode is there? I know it is a little troublesome to get started because of the weight of the anode that is up inside the tank.

[Phil P]

Hi

I had ours out yesterday for inspection. When reinstalling it they are hard to get started because of the weight of the zinc anode. As long as you got ¾ to 1 full turn by hand you are OK just tighten until reasonably tight. Then fill heater and pressure check with the onboard pump. That pump gives you more pressure than some public water systems. I let mine sit over night and check the next morning if to leak everything is good.

I use an adjustable wrench with the handle sticking straight out and a screw driver in the hole in the handle to take it out and put it back. There isn’t any reason to have it extremely tight. I do use Teflon tape on the threads.

Phil P

[jlb27537]

Dennis, Normal. Jim

[DQDick]

X2 on not using the teflon tape.

[Rondo]

Dennis-- If you can get one of those battery cleaning brushes, use it on the threads if you think they are corroded but using the Dremmel with a wire brush may cause some damage to the threads so be careful there!

[Ishler]

I use a tap on mine to clear the rust in the spring. Just don't go crazy.