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Student of the obvious
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 7,714
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Water heater maintenance - ever change your anode rod?
Water heater maintenance - ever change your anode rod? My lifetime warranty Whirlpool water heater lasted 6 years. Thankfully, Whirlpool is buying me a new $700 water heater.
When I called the Whirlpool warranty number I started getting nervous as they asked if I'd been flushing the tank regularly. Nope. Next they asked if I'd inspected the anode rod. Nope. I was aware of the whole anode rod thing, but never really thought about inspecting or replacing one. Whirlpool said since I have a water softener that it should be inspected annually and may need replacing that often. News to me. I'm going to put a reminder on the calendar to flush the heater and inspect the rod annually, but was just curious if anybody else ever does this as part of their regular home maintenance.
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Lee |
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07-21-2012, 10:10 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: OK
Posts: 12,730
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76' 911s Signature Edition |
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07-21-2012, 10:42 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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I've flushed a 16 year old water heater that hadn't been drained and nothing but water came out. The guy that changed our water heater recently said that he has seen 1 year old water heaters that pump pure calcium out when you drain them. You should hookup a garden hose once and see if anything but water drains. If not I don't see the point of draining it again.
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07-21-2012, 02:36 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 37,851
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I understand there is a 3-piece anode rod for installation below a low clearance situation.
Quote:
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07-21-2012, 02:41 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,969
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I check my water heater every 2-3 years. Never gotten anything out of it but still have seen them 1/4 to 1/3 full of crap in the bottom...
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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07-21-2012, 05:24 PM
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19 years and 17k posts...
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I wait until my water tank starts leaking, then we replace it!
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Art Zasadny 1974 Porsche 911 Targa "Helga" (Sold, back home in Germany) Learning the bass guitar Driving Ford company cars now... www.ford.com |
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07-21-2012, 06:11 PM
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You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 40,013
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This is especially true with well water. No need to eat broccoli to get your daily iron requirements or add salt.
If you have municipal supply, they may provide yearly tests of water quality with results for the public. Check with your city, or independent groups. |
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07-21-2012, 06:56 PM
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canna change law physics
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My 8 year old heater had a drain valve start leaking. I brought someone in to look at it, to make sure it was only a valve. He replaced the valve and then suggested I replace the anodes.
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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07-21-2012, 06:59 PM
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Well my water heater(sears installed it) is over 15 years old. I used to drain a couple of pails of water every few months to get rid of the sediment(the water was cloudy). Eventually the tap started leaking. Plumber replaced the drain tap.Only drain it occasionally now - the way I see it the less I touch that tap the better. Any further problem will replace the water tank. It owes me nothing.Whether draining off the "sediment" is a good thing is to me inconclusive.
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07-21-2012, 09:18 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 37,851
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First thing I do with a new water heater is install a brass hose bib style faucet so I can reliably hook up a hose and either flush the tank or use the hot water for something. Some of the plastic valves are downright scary. I had the stem come out of one while operating it. There was no stop and I unscrewed it too far. Screw that. Could have been a trip to the hospital.
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07-22-2012, 09:10 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,501
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Zeke, do those plastic outlets just unscrew. and you screw a brass bib on? Recently installed a new water heater at the house and down at the cabin and they both have plastic outlets. Another downside to the plastic outlets is that they limit the maximum amount of water drain. Takes forever to drain the tank down at the cabin.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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07-22-2012, 09:16 AM
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Student of the obvious
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 7,714
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When I returned the original water heater to Lowes yesterday I thought I'd check to see if they carried replacement anode rods. While I didn't ask, I sure couldn't find any in the aisle with water heaters and related supplies.
Timing on this thing letting go couldn't be better. Last week I was out of town for my 30th class reunion. My wife probably would have called in the nearest plumber. Next week, we'll be on vacation. We got in the habit of shutting off the water when we're away after the compression fitting on the dishwasher came loose and flooded the entire house in 2008. Years later we've been less diligent about that, but after this week's experience I think we'll go back to shutting it down as SOP.
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Lee |
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07-22-2012, 10:39 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 37,851
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When shutting down, just adjust the temp to low. Letting a water heater cool down completely is hard on them. That's what I'm told. |
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07-22-2012, 11:07 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 5,733
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Cant get to mine unless I remove the exhaust pipe and fan. Poor installation.
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07-22-2012, 03:59 PM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,501
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Quote:
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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07-23-2012, 02:13 PM
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Registered User
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I went with a tankless water heater after a few failures, replacements, of tank style heaters etc.
Will never go back to a tank....
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1986 911 Targa We affirm that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath - a roaring car that seems to ride on grapeshot.... |
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07-23-2012, 02:50 PM
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Slippery Slope Victim
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
Posts: 4,399
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I've got a customer that changes anodes every few years and he has had the same water heater since 1994. Of course he flushes it out regularly.
He's waiting to get some time to install a Navien IHWH that's been sitting on the shelf for two years waiting to get installed. Oh wait, that customer is me!
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Mike² 1985 M491 |
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07-24-2012, 04:23 AM
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MazdaSpeed3
1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
Lexus RX350
