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Old 02-24-2017, 07:14 PM   #1
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New Camper Anode Corroded?!

OK... I bought a new camper at the end of January and have been camping in it two weekends so far. Just for kicks I decided to see how hard it would be to drain the hot water heater. When I removed the Annode it was pitted very badly to the point of having small pea size indentions and white chips on it. It's bad enough that if I was doing this check at the one year point I would replace it. What in the world would cause this Annode to be I. Such horrible shape on a brand new camper? Has anyone else seen this?
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Old 02-24-2017, 07:18 PM   #2
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There is a very good guide on the anode rod in this thread. http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...rly-29726.html
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Old 02-24-2017, 07:21 PM   #3
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I understand but this is a BRAND New camper that is less than a month old!
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Old 02-24-2017, 07:25 PM   #4
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Corrosion of the anode is caused by impurities in the water the tank. If you did not drain it after each trip, the water has been setting in there since the first use. Replacing the anode in a year is not unusual in areas with bad water. You most likely can't do much about the water where you camp, but you can drain it after each use to reduce the impact.
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Old 02-24-2017, 07:47 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
Corrosion of the anode is caused by impurities in the water the tank. If you did not drain it after each trip, the water has been setting in there since the first use. Replacing the anode in a year is not unusual in areas with bad water. You most likely can't do much about the water where you camp, but you can drain it after each use to reduce the impact.
Amen to that. I had the same experience. I pulled the anode in fall and it was about 1/2 gone. I bought a new one for this season (only about $10)
I was not draining the tank after each trip - I WILL be this year!
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Old 02-24-2017, 07:49 PM   #6
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Flybob is right. Sounds tedious, but draining the HWH after every outing will extend the anode rod life considerably.

I got spoiled with my previous RV. It had an Atwood with a stainless steel tank and no anode at all.
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:47 PM   #7
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I think that everyone is missing the question!!! THIS IS A NEW CAMPER!!!! Why is the rod corroded in a NEW camper that is less than 1 month old?
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:50 PM   #8
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Could have been immersed in Antifreeze. Mine was when new. It was pitted. Still using the same one today. This will be our 4th season.

I never drain the water all season.
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:54 PM   #9
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It is not NEW it is a month old and odds are that the dealer filled the water system to test it out at some time and the water may have sat in it for a months..

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Old 02-24-2017, 10:03 PM   #10
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To bad you didn't get a pic of your anode rod. We may have been able to put your mind at ease if we saw just how far along the anode rod sacrificed itself in that short time.
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Old 02-24-2017, 11:05 PM   #11
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I have not filled the camper back up with water so I might pull it and post a picture over the weekend. I just found it odd that it would have it has already given up so much. I was expecting it to look almost completely new.
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Old 02-24-2017, 11:16 PM   #12
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We also have a new trailer we purchased in Dec. The anode tube is also corrode in ours as well. But we used our trailer last week and the water heater worked just fine. I will plan to replace it at the start of each camping season.
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Old 02-25-2017, 12:14 AM   #13
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I think that everyone is missing the question!!! THIS IS A NEW CAMPER!!!! Why is the rod corroded in a NEW camper that is less than 1 month old?
It's new to YOU, but when was it built and delivered to the dealer. Possible it's been sitting on the lot all Fall and Winter. Look on the VIN sticker on the front left side of the TT and it will show a build date. If it was built last fall and the dealer put water in it shortly after delivery, that would explain it.
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Old 02-25-2017, 07:07 AM   #14
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This is a water quality issue and not an anode issue. Sitting for a few months with well water high in iron or sulphates, will accelerate anode wear.

Draining the hot water tank when not in use is required by the hot water heater manual.
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Old 02-25-2017, 08:27 AM   #15
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If the anode is corroding, the rest easy that it is doing its job, instead of letting the tank itself corrode.

The camper itself may be new, but you have no idea how old the anode is. That thing could have been made a year or two before it was put into a water heater, and that water heater could be a year old before it even made it into your camper which sat on the lot who knows how long before you bought it.

This isn't something to get upset over.

Tim
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:00 AM   #16
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If the anode is corroding, the rest easy that it is doing its job, instead of letting the tank itself corrode.

The camper itself may be new, but you have no idea how old the anode is. That thing could have been made a year or two before it was put into a water heater, and that water heater could be a year old before it even made it into your camper which sat on the lot who knows how long before you bought it.

This isn't something to get upset over.

Tim
Agreed.
And just because it has corrosion in what you believe is a short time doesn't mean there is anything wrong either. They have a lot of material on them and even the small pea size pits you refer to isn't a big deal.

Anode rods corrode. It is what they do. Expect it. I've had some where they corroded a lot in a few months and then hardly corroded much more over the course of the rest of the year.

Obviously there was liquid in there of chemical makeup that prompted the anode to do its job. Be thankful it did.

Did you ever sanitize the tank?
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:02 AM   #17
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I have not filled the camper back up with water so I might pull it and post a picture over the weekend. I just found it odd that it would have it has already given up so much. I was expecting it to look almost completely new.
In reality, it should be removed and laying in the compartment if the heater was drained of water. You put it back in prior to using it.
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:26 AM   #18
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In reality, it should be removed and laying in the compartment if the heater was drained of water. You put it back in prior to using it.
I disagree. Leave it out long enough to dry out the tank if you want but I put the anode rod back in to prevent bugs from getting in the empty tank.
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:31 AM   #19
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I disagree. Leave it out long enough to dry out the tank if you want but I put the anode rod back in to prevent bugs from getting in the empty tank.
I'm in this camp too.

Once you reinstall, it is simply sticking inside the tank in thin air.
I reinstall right after removal/drain and am ready to go at a moments notice.
One less thing to do to get on the road.
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:41 AM   #20
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Be sure to add about two wraps of teflon tape to the threads before you put it back. Just to put your mind at rest, below is a photo of anode rod wear percentages.
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