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Topic ClosedWater heater anode
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Johncmarshjr View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 May 2017
Location: Maine
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Posts: 21 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Water heater anode
    Posted: 01 Jul 2017 at 6:09pm
I just replaced the anode after one year.  It was almost gone.  I would suggest they be replaced annually. $12 can save a lot of headaches. 
ALICE
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2017 at 9:23pm
It depends on the water, after 6 years, ours was still about 50%.
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 7:52am
I inspect mine every year during winterization. When it gets to 50% I replace it. Water and use are the two primary reasons for deterioration.
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 7:58am
Some areas have water that is very corrosive. The anode rod would not last long there. I changed ours when we picked it up from the factory. It was about 50%. Another thing that will cause it to corrode quickly is if you did not have the water heater bypassed and RV antifreeze got in there.
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Apr 2014
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 8:25am
After 4 years, mine was almost ready to replace. That was almost 100% strictly with my city water too. Only a few times did I fill at a campground, and regardless of water source, I used a Camco inline filter element on the hose. 

 The anode rod looked like Swiss cheese, but had about 40-50% left by my estimate, and the inside of the tank looked good. Shine a flashlight in there after removing the anode rod/drain to take a look.
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POD WE R View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 Feb 2017
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Posts: 42 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 9:20am
I check mine every 6 months and clean it with a wire brush. I replace it yearly regardless of condition.













E&M
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 12:30pm
Originally posted by POD WE R

I check mine every 6 months and clean it with a wire brush. I replace it yearly regardless of condition.
E&M
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To each his own but that's kind of like changing a lightbulb every year whether it needs it or not.

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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 1:45pm
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas

Originally posted by POD WE R

I check mine every 6 months and clean it with a wire brush. I replace it yearly regardless of condition.
E&M
2017 180 HRE
Arizona

To each his own but that's kind of like changing a lightbulb every year whether it needs it or not.

TT

True, but I do agree with other's that it's cheap insurance regardless of need. Probably every other year would be better. We all have to winterize (well, most of us anyway) and when the hot water tank is drained, the anode rod gets inspected. It wouldn't hurt to put a spare in the outdoor storage, just in case.
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MoPod View Drop Down
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Joined: 10 Oct 2013
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Posts: 105 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 2:11pm
Can someone explain the danger of not replacing an anode immediately when it becomes "used up"?  I was under the impression that the anode protects the tank from attack by hard water or chemicals in the water.  Clearly you wouldn't want to go forever without replacing the anode, but if sometime during the season if it became "used up" and didn't get replaced until the fall when your winterized what danger would there be?  

It seems like folks are carrying a lot of stuff and replacing a lot of stuff just in case.
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Apr 2014
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2017 at 2:22pm
 The anode rod gets attacked instead of the tank. It helps to prevent galvanic corrosion due to water quality.  I do not know how fast the corrosion would happen if the anode rod wasn't present (worn completely). 

 Every hot water tank has an anode rod, even your home water heater tanks have a sacrificial anode rod which must be inspected regularly or you risk corrosion of the tank.
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