Rv Water Heater Anode Rod Purpose

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Rv water heater anode rod purpose.

Water heater anodes all serve the same basic purpose but there are a few models on the market so you will need to know what kind of anode rod your water heater uses before you attempt to replace them or before you start maintaining the tank. Refill and test the rv water heater. Fetch this document. An anode rod is made up of magnesium or aluminum.

So water heater manufacturers place an anode rod into the tank. These are all plentiful in a water heater tank. I like to install a fresh anode rod every year. If the anode rod had reduced in size by two thirds of its original diameter of 3 4 or shows signs of pitting it is time for replacement.

Once it is in there nice and tight it s time to turn the water back on and let the hw tank refill. As aluminum anode rods corrode they can produce an aluminum oxide deposit normally found at the bottom of water heaters but occasionally make it into the main water supply and into faucet aerators. The aluminum oxide forms a virtually odorless gel substance that can vary in texture from a firm somewhat sticky curd to a thick running slurry. An anode rod is a solid metal cylinder that gets screwed into a water heater s drain plug to prevent the steel water heater tank from rusting inside.

Although in modern water heaters the tank is encased in a thin layer of glass water can still get into cracks and rust the water heater s tank. As long as anode rods are replaced on a regular basis once six inches of the core wire have been exposed by corrosion a new one is needed the lifespan of a water heater tank can be extended indefinitely. I take the new anode rod and wrap white teflon plumbing tape around the threads and screw it back in place. They are made from aluminum magnesium or zinc all metals that will sacrifice themselves through electrolysis and save the exposed steel water heater tank from a similar fate.

For the purpose of this article we are going focus on water heaters with tanks. I generally don t see too many of these tank less water heaters because the manufacturers have found that they don t work very well and customers often complain about them. You should hear it pour into the empty tank. Rv water heater anode rod magnesium anode rod suburban water heaters suburban morflo 9 25 long 3 4 thread long lasting tank corrosion protection 1pc 4 8 out of 5 stars 583.

Tankless water heaters don t have anode rods but standard tank style heaters will have one. There are some tank less water heaters that are usually on demand style water heaters.