AO Smith residential water heater. 6 year versus 10 year

STEAM DOCTOR

Good morning. Is there a difference between the sixth year and the 10-year water heaters? Guys in the supply houses don't seem to know. Some say the 10-year has an extra anode rod. Thanks. The insulation on the 10 year is thicker.

GGross

Should be the same as the American brand, the warranty is the only difference as far as I can see on the specs and features.

dko

The only difference is they put an aluminum anode in the 6-year (part# 100109594) and magnesium in the 10-year (part# 100108660)
Insulation and everything else is the same.

The extra anode rod is only when you buy an extension warranty separately for your 6-year to turn it into a 10-year.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, For what it's worth, my approach has been to add a second rod to a five or six year tank. It gets the client a long-lived tank at a lower price. I only use magnesium when the water might be ingested.😋

Yours, Larry

guzzinerd

Larry Weingarten said:

Hi, For what it's worth, my approach has been to add a second rod to a five or six year tank. It gets the client a long-lived tank at a lower price. I only use magnesium when the water might be ingested.😋 Yours, Larry

Just curious, why add a 2nd rod instead of just changing them out every couple/three years?

MikeL_2

  I prefer installing a powered anode on 6 year warrantee heaters. The tank can last up to 25 years with proper routine maintenance. 

Larry Weingarten

Hi @guzzinerd , A second anode provides somewhat better protection (particularly in gas fired heaters) and also reduces the frequency of servicing. Most people are not too good at doing the service work. Also, I've been able to get over fifty years from tanks with regular maintenance.

Yours, Larry

mattmia2

I think the powered anode and checking that the power supply is on every once in a while is more the level of maintenance i'm likely to do.