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Old 10-10-2015, 10:44 AM   #1
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No Anode in Water Heater

When I drained my water heater for winterizing I found there is no anode, just a plastic plug in it's location. I questioned the dealer and they said because the tank is glass lined so no anode rod is required? I have never heard this before because I know residential water heaters are glass lined and fail quickly once the anode rod is depleted. Do you folks have a just a plastic plug or is there an anode rod?
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Old 10-10-2015, 11:05 AM   #2
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Atwood = has no anode
Suburban = has anode
Check your model


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Old 10-10-2015, 05:14 PM   #3
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The Solera comes with Atwood and no anode is "normal"
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Old 10-11-2015, 10:22 AM   #4
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I think you need to check the year on the Solera mine's a 2013 and has a Suburban with anode.
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Old 10-11-2015, 10:31 AM   #5
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Just put an anode in there and call it a day?
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Old 10-11-2015, 10:38 AM   #6
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I had a 31' Terry for 15 years. Just drain and flush every fall and no issues.
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Old 10-11-2015, 10:39 AM   #7
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I think you need to check the year on the Solera mine's a 2013 and has a Suburban with anode.
From what bclemens has stated, they changed from the suburban to atwood around 2015.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...elp-82884.html
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Old 10-11-2015, 11:04 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geeber View Post
When I drained my water heater for winterizing I found there is no anode, just a plastic plug in it's location. I questioned the dealer and they said because the tank is glass lined so no anode rod is required? I have never heard this before because I know residential water heaters are glass lined and fail quickly once the anode rod is depleted. Do you folks have a just a plastic plug or is there an anode rod?
Dealers are DUMB as a general rule.

Specific ones may be the exception; I just haven't met one yet.

Aluminum Tanks do not need Anodes (Typically Atwood).

Iron ones (glass lined or not) (Typically Suburban); DO.

The interior glass does reach the fitting intrusion points or the torque of tightening the fitting would crack the glass. The glass is there for longevity of the boiler due to the thinness of the tank walls for weight reduction. They still will rust out quickly (at the fittings) without an anode.
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Old 10-11-2015, 11:08 AM   #9
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Just put an anode in there and call it a day?
An aluminum anode in an aluminum tank is wasted money.

A Magnesium anode might be electrically helpful but result in Magnesium Oxide nodules from the anode decay in the floor of the tank. Why add another metal to your drinking water?
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Old 10-11-2015, 11:48 AM   #10
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I agree with Acadianbob,,,,,,,I've always put an anode in all of my heaters. They decompose over time....does that tell you something? Herk7769 ...so you drink your hot water?
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Old 10-11-2015, 11:57 AM   #11
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The lite has an Atwood, I would consider it a waste of money and my time to install an unneeded anode.
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Old 10-11-2015, 12:54 PM   #12
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The lite has an Atwood, I would consider it a waste of money and my time to install an unneeded anode.
You must like buying water heaters that keeps the lime from building up on everything inside the heater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 10-11-2015, 01:06 PM   #13
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I agree with Acadianbob,,,,,,,I've always put an anode in all of my heaters. They decompose over time....does that tell you something? Herk7769 ...so you drink your hot water?
Opening the cold water tap while on the water pump will drop the system pressure until the pump cut in pressure. This will draw water from the bottom (inlet) of your hot water heater into the cold water pipes every time. You are going to drink, brush your teeth, or make your coffee with that water at some point.

Just saying...

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You must like buying water heaters that keeps the lime from building up on everything inside the heater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The anode does not prevent Calcification; it prevents corrosion (rust) of the steel tank. The heat is what causes calcium deposits as the dissolved calcium in your water is precipitated out of solution at the heat source.

That is why you need to decalcify your coffee maker. The electric heater causes the calcium to be deposited on the heating element.
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Old 10-11-2015, 03:11 PM   #14
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Great info Herk.

The OP has a plastic plug on his WH which typically means Atwood, so rust is not an issue.

I would assume it was a recently purchased Solera or other MBS since they are a newer member and it is posted on the Solera forum, but they do not state the year of the rig, either.
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Old 10-11-2015, 03:13 PM   #15
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You must like buying water heaters that keeps the lime from building up on everything inside the heater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...v+anode+rod+do
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Old 10-11-2015, 07:18 PM   #16
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no anode, just a plastic plug in it's location.

Yes, the 2015 has an Atwood and no anode is needed. In fact, I highly recommend you do not put one in. I had an Atwood in a previous RV and a service guy stuck an anode in. When I tried to remove it six months later it would not come out. I called the service manager and he said one should have never been installed because the metal on the anode is different than on the hot water heater and (now I will likely use wrong terminology) they "melded" together.

He had the original service guy remove it, telling him if he damaged the water heater he was paying for it. Took the guy awhile but he got it out. Suspect he won't do that again. And I certainly won't!
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Old 10-11-2015, 07:29 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Pod2Vibe View Post
Great info Herk.

The OP has a plastic plug on his WH which typically means Atwood, so rust is not an issue.
That was in response to the post made by Dicky1243.
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Old 10-11-2015, 07:34 PM   #18
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I called the service manager and he said one should have never been installed because the metal on the anode is different than on the hot water heater and (now I will likely use wrong terminology) they "melded" together.
That is actually a fairly accurate description of what happened; aluminum to aluminum under pressure can cause the mated surfaces to bond making the seam tend to disappear over time. (atoms of one item join at the molecular level to the atoms on the other item becoming one lattice).

The tighter the connection, the higher the pressure at the threads and the more likely for the aluminum to try and meld together.
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Old 10-11-2015, 09:35 PM   #19
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I've never had that problem....probably because I pull my anode out every six months and pressure blow the lime build-up out the hole. I also use teflom tape to keep the threads from allowing galvanic corrosion.
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Old 10-11-2015, 10:18 PM   #20
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My old trailer had an Atwood water heater no anode used the water heater all the while, the trailer was a 96. Never plugged up still worked when sold last year, next year that would be 20 yrs old.
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