Anod Rod Question

[PBallie1602]

Is this how the Anod Rod is supposed to look on a camper that is a few months old?

[dustman_stx]

Mine did.

[Triguy]

Yours looks good.

This diagram compares the wear on an anode rod in a general sense. The amount of time it takes really depends on the corrosive elements in your water supply(ies). My current rod looks pretty good even after two good years of camping.

[PBallie1602]

Thanks! That makes it easy to understand!

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Triguy

The amount of time it takes really depends on the corrosive elements in your water supply(ies). My current rod looks pretty good even after two good years of camping.

X2

You can also extend the life of your rod, by draining your water heater when not in use between camping trips....instead of letting the anode rod stay submerged in water during idle time.

Just looking at the pic, it seems your rod is getting weak near the threaded end. As cheap as the rods are, I would probably go ahead and replace this one since you got it out.

As the rod does it job and deteriorates, it leaves pieces and residue inside your heaters tank, that needs to be flushed/cleaned every so often.

[TURBS]

X2 on draining Hw heater between trips .

Got 7 years on my last anode rod and still didn't need replaced before I traded.

[MtnGuy]

I have 4 years on my anode rod, and I don't drain the water between trips.



I don't plan on replacing that puppy anytime soon...maybe when it gets down to the about 25% anode remaining in another 10 years or so.

[wmtire]

I won't get a year on mine down here, if I don't drain the tank. We probably have more chemicals in our H2O.

[B47]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

I have 4 years on my anode rod, and I don't drain the water between trips.

Attachment 21940

I don't plan on replacing that puppy anytime soon...maybe when it gets down to the about 25% anode remaining in another 10 years or so.

This whole issue of how long each person gets from his/her anode rod has many variables such as the hardness of the water at the various CG's you visit, the chemicals in the various CG water supply, how often you use your RV water heater, etc.

There is no hard life limit that each of us can expect to get from their anode rod.

I guess that is why the anode rod manufacturers don't give a definite life limit.

[browne02]

WMTire how do you flush out the residue inside your heaters tank

[PBallie1602]

I was wondering the same! Do you just drain it each time, or have some way of flushing???

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by browne02

WMTire how do you flush out the residue inside your heaters tank

I'm sure that everyone has their own technique for this.

1. How I personally do mine, is to pull the anode rod and wash it off with my garden hose. Be careful of where you lay the anode rod, because anything on the anode rod, could end up in your mouth,.... if you use water from your water heater to brush your teeth, drink, etc.

2. I then insert a water heater tank flush wand (hooked to my house water hose) into the hole where I removed the anode rod, and aim it all around the inside, washing off everything (removing the wand now and again, to give the gunk room to wash out). You will be surprised how much gunk actually floods out the hole. This process can take several minutes, and I keep doing it till I get just clean water coming out.

Link to tank wand.

Water Heater Tank Rinser - Camco RV 11691 - Water Heaters - Camping World

3. I made a attachment similar to the angled tip design of the flush wand to hook up to my wet/dry vac. About every other flush, I also vac out the bottom of the tank to get any residue that may have not washed out.

4. There is a link somewhere (I may have it saved on my home computer and will repost this evening) that also tells how to add vinegar into your tank, to help clean it more thoroughly. I've only done this a few times though.

[B47]

Originally Posted by browne02

WMTire how do you flush out the residue inside your heaters tank

Go to CW and search "Water Heater Tank Rinser". You will see an item #49070 on sale for $5.84.

I tried to upload it, but it has too many images.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by B47

This whole issue of how long each person gets from his/her anode rod has many variables such as the hardness of the water at the various CG's you visit, the chemicals in the various CG water supply, how often you use your RV water heater, etc.

There is no hard life limit that each of us can expect to get from their anode rod.

Agree, 100%.

[mduff]

Just looking at the pic, it seems your rod is getting weak near the threaded end.

Is this typical? Mine looked like that as well. I replaced because I had no idea when/if it was replaced previously. I kept the old rod that is similar to the picture, (weak near the threaded end), to compare after next season. Wondering if this is normal and wear is more aggressive at the end due to the different metals, or...

[MtnGuy]

There is a non-deteriorating rod that runs the length of the anode rod....about the size of a welding rod. I have never heard of that failing, and everything falling off. If you look at the picture in my post #7, you can see that the anode now starts about 1" from the plug. Seems like that gets the most deterioration 1st, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The rod is doing what is supposed to do....giving up ions so that your water heater parts don't.