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Old 12-19-2015, 07:22 PM   #1
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Suburban water heater anode

We own a 15 34rl. We full time and took delivery in early February.
I pulled the anode and found it spent in 10 months of use. It may be in everybody's interest to check and flush your water heater while it's out. We have been full timing since 07 and never had a anode wear down that fast. I pull them every 12 months and usually have 1/4 left. FYI
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Old 12-19-2015, 11:37 PM   #2
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Was it an aluminum or magnesium rod?
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Old 12-20-2015, 07:25 AM   #3
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I just replace mine once a year.
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Old 12-20-2015, 07:59 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by 97flhtcui View Post
We own a 15 34rl. We full time and took delivery in early February.
I pulled the anode and found it spent in 10 months of use. It may be in everybody's interest to check and flush your water heater while it's out. We have been full timing since 07 and never had a anode wear down that fast. I pull them every 12 months and usually have 1/4 left. FYI
Are you at the Same Water Supply location that the other A-Rods were lasting longer? Also good Q above about Which A-Rod,Alum or Mag! Youroo!!
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Old 12-20-2015, 08:02 AM   #5
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Just remember... it isn't 'spent' until it looks like the bottom illustration.

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Old 12-20-2015, 08:21 AM   #6
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Winterized my HWH and was rally surprised that the anode was down by 25% in one year. No big deal.
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Old 12-20-2015, 08:23 AM   #7
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I change my anode every year, no matter what the used one looks like.

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Old 12-20-2015, 08:29 AM   #8
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I change my anode every year, no matter what the used one looks like.

Bruce
Totally not being a smart @$$ but why?
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Old 12-20-2015, 08:49 AM   #9
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Are all the anodes the same size, and/or material? I really don't want aluminum in my water. Magnesium sounds healthier.
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Old 12-20-2015, 08:57 AM   #10
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They do come in different sizes by different makers but all still have 3/4 TP for install! Your choice on Al/Mag? Youroo!!
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Old 12-20-2015, 09:02 AM   #11
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Suburban wants you to use Mag! Found this out at Goshen when they fixed my WH.
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Old 12-20-2015, 09:11 AM   #12
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Angry

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Totally not being a smart @$$ but why?
Well, some years the anode is almost completely depleted and other years it is close to new. I don't want to put an anode with 75% life left back in because I know I might have another one of those years where a new anode would be almost completely depleted and I wouldn't know until winter that I had been operating the heater with no anode for an unknown period. I do not want to make periodic checks of the anode throughout the season.

I have been a plumber since 1982 and I have seen the differences in anode depletion in water heaters of the same brand in the same neighborhoods. I have replaced hundreds of residential water heaters over the years and I have looked at the anodes of about 25% of them just for my own interest. There is no rhyme or reason to the difference in depletion from one water heater to the next.

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Old 12-20-2015, 09:11 AM   #13
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Are all the anodes the same size, and/or material? I really don't want aluminum in my water. Magnesium sounds healthier.
To reduce the Alum. taste,Don't Drink the Hot Water! Youroo!!
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Old 12-20-2015, 03:36 PM   #14
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Highly dependent on water chemistry and time used. Change when needed
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Old 12-20-2015, 03:40 PM   #15
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Highly dependent on water chemistry and time used. Change when needed
x2
Our original anode lasted over 7 years before it needed to be replaced.
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Old 12-20-2015, 06:31 PM   #16
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When I posted this it was a FYI post. But to answer some questions.... A new cc with a suburban water heater they only use a magnesium anode. Yes water habits are the same. Check anode every year as per manufacturers instructions. Flushing the tank when you pull the anode makes good sense. You don't want that stuff in your water system. Also....if you pull it, replace it. Don't be cheap when it comes to your water heater. Also... "Spent" means spent.
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Old 12-20-2015, 08:05 PM   #17
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I change them every six months. May be overkill but cheap insurance.
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Old 12-20-2015, 11:30 PM   #18
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Just got my anode ordered from Amazon! Ordered a spare just in case this one goes fast...And yes I got the Magnesium one, because your body needs it more than Aluminum...Don't want that stuff in my tea!
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Old 12-21-2015, 07:39 AM   #19
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I bought a camco anode a few years back because that was all cw had at the time. The following year I pulled it and it looked like the day I put it in. I found out it was aluminum so I never bought another.
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Old 12-21-2015, 08:13 AM   #20
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Quote:
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J...Don't want that stuff in my tea!
A couple of comments- your home water heater most likely has an anode.
Do you use water from the hot faucet to make drinks??
We have a carbon filter on the cold side and that's what we use for coffee, tea and water bottle filling.
No anode in our RV since the tank is aluminum to start with.
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