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02-24-2017, 08:29 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Something we don't talk about here...Anode rods
We all discuss replacing anode rods in Suburban HW heaters in out RV's but I bet not many of us realize that in our residential basements there is another sacrificial anode rod that needs replaced at least every 5 years that probably never gets replaced and is the leading cause of HWH failure in residential heaters, both gas an electric..
The anode rod.
It's cheap, about 25 bucks. They all take a 1 1/16" socket and breaker bar to loosen.
Replacing every 5 years or sooner will double the life of your water heater.
We replace the anode rods in our Suburban RV units and completely forget that there is another anode rod that needs replaced... in our basements.
25 bucks is a lot cheaper than a new water heater anyday.
Just a little FYI....
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02-24-2017, 11:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,947
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Didn't even realize or even think to check that our residential one would have one as well!
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax
2016 Rockwood 8289WS, Diamond Pkg.
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02-25-2017, 12:45 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,033
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I actually did run into this info a number of years ago. Bought a new rod but couldn't get the old one out! Well the tank is now 29 years old and still going strong. And this is on a private well. Clean living I guess.
However, I have a new one already in the basement that I'm going to put in shortly.
__________________
Al
I am starting to think, that I will never be old enough--------to know better.
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist
S.E. Mich. Flagstaff 26FKWS / 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost SCrew Propride
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02-25-2017, 08:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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They don't come out easy. I soaked my top fitting with PBlaster and used a 1/2" impact wrench on it. I tried the socket and breaker bar method and all I was doing was rotating the heater... not good.
They sell them jointed now so where overhead clearance is an issue (the anode rods are 4 feet long) you can still get it in.
Same thing happens in your residential HWH that happens in your RV heater. The anode rod gets consumed and then the minerals in the water attack the tank and eventually cause it to leak.
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02-25-2017, 09:11 AM
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#5
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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And then there is me.
First thing I do when I get a home water tank is remove the anode.
We have heavy iron and tannins and even with iron filters and softeners, leaving the rod in the tank makes the worst rotten egg smell imaginable.
So if you leave it in, you have to chlorine shock the tank about once a month. What a pain. Everyone around here just removes them.
Tanks last 15-20 years WITHOUT them.
Go figure.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
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02-25-2017, 09:16 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
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What's a 'basement'???
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"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard
FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
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02-25-2017, 01:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 316
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Hot water heater is glass lined and no anode rod. I understand that the Atwood water heaters in RVs are also glass lined and do not require an anode.
__________________
Marcel & Jenne
Kemptville, ON
2014 Rockwood 8282WS
2015 Ford F150 Eco-Boost
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02-25-2017, 01:38 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Better look again. 'Glass Lined' is really a spray on coating not glass in the actual term. Only the ultra high efficiency electric residential heaters have plastic (not metal tanks)(.
Atwood RV heaters are metal tanks, not mild steel but aluminum or stainless, not sure which. I had an Atwood in my other RV and no anode rod.
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02-25-2017, 01:51 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,058
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Don't forget to drain it every year, especially in areas with high mineral water.
__________________
Trailer: Lifted 228BH, heavy duty springs and Yokohama tires DELAMINATED ROOF
TV: 2016 GMC Sierra Z71 4x4 CC, SLT
Spare TV: Two Alaskan Malamutes
Living somewhere in ID; previously lived in Moab UT; previous to that, don't ask!
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02-25-2017, 01:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Medina, OH
Posts: 118
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From Atwood website;
Atwood water heater tanks are constructed of a high strength aluminum.
The interior of the tank consists of a .0015 thickness of type 7072
aluminum (pure aluminum and zinc) that is fused to the core during the
rolling process. This material protects the tanks from the effects of heavy
metals and salts found in waters throughout the country. It is anodic to
these heavy metals and acts much like an anode in a steel glass lined
tank except it will last much longer. Aftermarket Anode Rods are not
required and should not be used and will void warranty.
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02-25-2017, 02:51 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drelec
From Atwood website;
Atwood water heater tanks are constructed of a high strength aluminum.
The interior of the tank consists of a .0015 thickness of type 7072
aluminum (pure aluminum and zinc) that is fused to the core during the
rolling process. This material protects the tanks from the effects of heavy
metals and salts found in waters throughout the country. It is anodic to
these heavy metals and acts much like an anode in a steel glass lined
tank except it will last much longer. Aftermarket Anode Rods are not
required and should not be used and will void warranty.
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This is the information I found on the following link: RV Water Heater Repair and Troubleshooting - Anode Rods, Smells, and More
"Atwood water heaters are of the glass-lined variety and an anode is not required."
Another link RV Tech Library - Water Heaters states
"Hot water heaters are made by two well known companies. You either have an Atwood hot water heater or a Suburban hot water heater. The biggest differences are that the Suburban hot water heater uses a steel tank while the Atwood uses an aluminum tank. Both tanks are glass lined but the Suburban uses a sacrificial anode rod to control corrosion in the tank while the aluminum clad Atwood tank does not use an anode rod.
Clear as mud. All that matters is that Suburban's have anode rods that must be changed every year whereas Atwoods do not have anode rods. When my Suburban tank bites the dust, I am replacing it with an Atwood.
__________________
Marcel & Jenne
Kemptville, ON
2014 Rockwood 8282WS
2015 Ford F150 Eco-Boost
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02-25-2017, 03:27 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Amarillo/Tx
Posts: 625
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I am certain that I will be corrected but I don't see much need for anode rod if the water heater is drained after each outing. Since during use the water in the tank is being refreshed regularly.
__________________
2017 Georgetown 329S
Toad 2015 Toyota Tacoma
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02-25-2017, 05:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 415
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Went to a tankless heater 5 years ago. No more anode rods.
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02-25-2017, 07:04 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sunbury, OH
Posts: 2
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I don't use them at home.
Here in Central Ohio there is an abundance of Sulfur in our well water. I am fortunate enough to only have enough that shows up when the Hot water is turned on. Tried both Magnesium and Aluminum rods to no avail. Even the plumbers in the area told me that they regularly cut the rods off. I am on my 2nd WH in 20 years so I suppose I am lucky.
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02-25-2017, 11:55 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SW ONTARIO
Posts: 354
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SidecarFlip
Better look again. 'Glass Lined' is really a spray on coating not glass in the actual term. Only the ultra high efficiency electric residential heaters have plastic (not metal tanks)(.
Atwood RV heaters are metal tanks, not mild steel but aluminum or stainless, not sure which. I had an Atwood in my other RV and no anode rod.
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Most residential water heaters made by and sold under the A.O. SMITH brand have a true glass lining- a process first developed by that company nearly 100 years ago. I know this because my wife told me so- she worked for AO for 22 years.
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02-26-2017, 04:29 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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If I dug a basement here in S Louisiana all Id get is a very dirty shallow swimming pool.
We put our water heaters in the attic with a drain pan underneath in case of a leak. They are usually so close tot he roof that removing the anode would be impossible without completely draining it, unhooking it, layingit on its side to get the rod out and replaced.
NOBODY does it
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2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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02-26-2017, 04:38 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BandJCarm
What's a 'basement'???
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What's a 'house' ??
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Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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02-26-2017, 07:50 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BandJCarm
What's a 'basement'???
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I was going to ask the same thing.
__________________
David and Vicki
19-month-old English Springer Spaniel "Sadie"
2019 Silverado LTZ Duramax
2023 GDRV Reflection 150 226RK
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02-26-2017, 09:47 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 5,977
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Springerdad
I was going to ask the same thing.
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It is the large room below the house,,, it's where you go when you see a Tornado coming !!!
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02-26-2017, 11:57 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,022
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Then we're in trouble. Some houses here have 'safe rooms' that are solid concrete all around, and a pre-stressed concrete ceiling. Most of us don't. We had a EF2 roll through part of our town last January and really roughed things up. People are still fixing up their battered homes.
__________________
David and Vicki
19-month-old English Springer Spaniel "Sadie"
2019 Silverado LTZ Duramax
2023 GDRV Reflection 150 226RK
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