Anode Rod (Hot Water Heater

[kjohn6363]

How often do you check and replace the Anode Rod in the hot water heater?

[Sdgood1]

I drain my hwh after every trip, so the anode is inspected every time. Don’t know if there’s a set time to change, they’re cheap so when mines real ugly, I buy a new pretty one.

[kjohn6363]

The rod was a mess, I just replaced it.
Thanks for the feedback.

[rohrmann]

We full time and replace ours annually. Even with a water softener, depending on water hardness, sometimes the anode doesn’t look too bad and other times it’s definitely needing replacement. Regardless of its condition, I just replace it.

[1retired06]

Twice a year before and after Snowbird season in Florida. We use magnesium, not the aluminum rod.

[prndl]

Originally Posted by kjohn6363

How often do you check and replace the Anode Rod in the hot water heater?

Every year.
I use the 120V electric heat more than the gas.

[bheckie123]

We are winter Texans and the water down here has lots of minerals/calcium in it. Even though I use a water softener system, my anode rod needs to be replaced every November when I return to Texas. I also use only the magnesium rods as they do a better job of removing the "crud".

[Dan and Becky]

I cut the rod off and flush every week. I also have multiple filters and a water softener in line and do not have any issues.

[Slow Hand]

I drain my WH every winter and rinse it out. You won't believe how much crap is in there LOL. If the rod if bad than I change it.

[DutchmenSport]

Check it every time you drain the water, since you have to pull the rod anyway to drain the tank. When to replace? When you see the bare metal rod. They do look ugly when they are doing their job. But just because they look ugly does not mean it's time get a new one. They are doing their job until all the white-grey "stuff" is eroded away and you can then see the bare metal rod that's in the middle of all the outer stuff. THEN its time to replace with a new one.

[prndl]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

Check it every time you drain the water, since you have to pull the rod anyway to drain the tank. When to replace? When you see the bare metal rod. They do look ugly when they are doing their job. But just because they look ugly does not mean it's time get a new one. They are doing their job until all the white-grey "stuff" is eroded away and you can then see the bare metal rod that's in the middle of all the outer stuff. THEN its time to replace with a new one.

Like mine when I did the first replacement.
[IMG][/IMG]

[lj_cox]

We inspect the anode and flush the hot water tank once a year as part of sanitizing the fresh water system. It gets replaced when we see the underlying metal support wire or figure we're close to it.

[Exnavydiver]

Annually when not staying in Arizona/ Nevada for an extended time. They have the most alkali water in the country. I check it every 3 months ad flush the heater each time I check. I always get tons of white mineral cheese out of it. I sand the built up crud off the anode if it isn't depleted too much. If it is too far gone I replace it. Cheap protection against a hot water heater with tiny holes in the tank..

[rohrmann]

Originally Posted by Dan and Becky

I cut the rod off and flush every week. I also have multiple filters and a water softener in line and do not have any issues.

If you cut off the anode, then you have no protection for your glass coated steel tank from electrolysis, which is what the anode is for. It has nothing to do with water quality. All glass coated steel tanks will develop cracks in the glass coating over time and that is where the anode comes into play, to sacrifice itself to prevent the steel tank from rusting through. If you read the Suburban water heater manual, if the anode is not used, the warranty is void.

[StageCoachDriver]

I pull mine every time I put the Monty away for more than a month because I drain the hot water heater.

[laverdur]

The only thing left of the anode shown by prndl is the steel support rod. All of the donor metal (aluminum or magnesium) has been consumed. I drain my heater when I winterize and inspect the anode at that time. It will be eaten away and have craters but that is what it is supposed to do. When most of the donor metal is gone I replace it.

[McRod]

Originally Posted by kjohn6363

How often do you check and replace the Anode Rod in the hot water heater?

Annually.

[Montana Man]

I have a water heater. Not sure what a hot water heater does...

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

If you cut off the anode, then you have no protection for your glass coated steel tank from electrolysis, which is what the anode is for. It has nothing to do with water quality. All glass coated steel tanks will develop cracks in the glass coating over time and that is where the anode comes into play, to sacrifice itself to prevent the steel tank from rusting through. If you read the Suburban water heater manual, if the anode is not used, the warranty is void.

Double ditto on what Bob says. The sacrificial anode is there to protect your tank from corroding away and beginning leaking quickly. The only advantage of removing the anode is to combat the rotten egg smell you might get in your water from Hydrogen sulfide. Not many public water systems contain H2S. Some have told me that the magnesium rods help with the odor issue.

[McRod]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

I have a water heater. Not sure what a hot water heater does...

The perfunctory mission of the hot water heater is to control the relative position of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in relation to one and the other.

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