Anode Rod

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Softened water is a water heater’s worst enemy. It will also eat an anode in a New York minute.

I don’t know why so many people think that hard water is what kills a water heater. It’s quite the opposite.

Bruce

Originally Posted by nomad297

If you don’t believe me, or you want to get educated on this, look up A.O. Smith’s Tech Center Bulletin 61.

Or, just click on this link: https://www.hotwater.com/lit/bulletin/bulletin61.pdf

Bruce

Good to know. I've always been told it was:

1) Anode rod is used up more when excess impurities are present in the water.
2) Water with excess impurities is 'harder'

So, easy to see how I can mis-interpret that hard water is the cause of anode rod usage. But know I know better.

[Scrapper]

Water hardness is determined by the amount of dissolved calcium it contains. Water softeners do not remove dissolved iron, manganese, sulfur, and other minerals the water contains.

The water (private well) at my house has high calcium, iron and manganese. The manganese level is below safe levels but high enough there is a black slime that builds up on the toilet tank walls and needs to be cleaned off periodically.


The water at the cg we are seasonals at is a lot better than the water at my house. The anode is about 85% after 6 yrs. Good to go another 6yrs.

[Charles Firth]

My anode is 5 yrs old, and still looks good. I have made it my practice, to drain the heater if it will be sitting any length of time. Several years ago the water sat in the heater for about a month during the hot and humid Virginia summer and got really funky smelling.., so I drain it. I don't know if its right or wrong but it seems to work for me.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by ard58

Went to winterize our travel trailer yesterday. Live in south Texas and have unseasonably cold weather down here. Pulled anode rod out of water heater to drain and I was surprised at what I found. The rod is totally used up. I've read some of you have not replaced yet and your trailers are 3, 4 years old and some older. Lucky you. Our trailer is only 16 months old but from what I saw I am going to start replacing it every year.

They do make aluminum rods for places where the water is real bad .

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by MR.M

They do make aluminum rods for places where the water is real bad .

Can you define “real bad”, please.

Bruce

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Can you define “real bad”, please.

Bruce

According to my dad, when he was growing up (50's era) their tap water came out looking like iced tea. I think that is the definition of "real bad".

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Can you define “real bad”, please.

Bruce

real bad is where it eats up your anode rod in 1 season