water heater anodes

SVDW

12 Year old water heater? I think you might as well wait until it fails & replace the whole thing. If it's that old & never replaced the anode it's probably going to damage the heater just getting it out. Plus, the efficiency of a new unit will probably be worth the change-out. If the old one hasn't failed by now your water probably is not that bad. Do you have a softener? If so don't put another anode in the WH. Most plumbers I deal with remove the rod & plug the hole b/c the trace salt elements in the water react w/the anode & can make your water smell. Good luck.

David Hohengasser

water heater anodes

Another post mentioned they need to be serviced. What are they and when do they need to be serviced? How? My water heater is 10-12 years old.

David Sutton_6

on the top

you will see one or two items that look like plugs, you will need to remove presure from the tank and remove these, they will have long tubes attatched if the are rotted away they will need to be replaced, if not reseal threads and replace them...David

Lurker_2

anodes

The anodes basically are there to corrode away so that the rest of your tank stays intact. They're referred to as "sacrificial anodes" for that reason. The most reactive (from a particular chemical point of view) metal in the tank corrodes, and so the anode is typically made of metals that are fairly reactive (Aluminum, Magnesium).

It's a long tube screwed into your tank; it probably looks vaguely like a plug on the top of the tank. They're usually horrendously hard to remove. Check them every year or two. Be sure to remove the pressure & water supply to the tank first, of course. Or just hire a pro to check it.

I believe the typical rule is that if you see 6 inches of bare wire on the anode (it's a core wire surrounded by the reacive metal), replace it. If you see more, I'd worry about the tank.

-Michael

Larry Weingarten

suggest...

... you have a look at www.waterheaterrescue.com for way too much on the topic :~)

Yours, Larry

Larry Weingarten

Those plumbers...

... that remove the anode are voiding any warranty left. I'd discourage them from taking on that liability. There are so called zinc anodes that are 8% zinc, mainly aluminum, made for odor. Odor comes largely from insufficient hot water usage. It's a common problem in churches where the heater is used only on weekends. I've got heaters over fifty years old out there. Older heaters are not universally less efficient than new ones... it depends on the level of insulation. Maintenance seems to work...:~) I'd vote for at least checking the anode.

Yours, Larry