Electric Water Heater Anode Rod Replacement

Open the drain valve.

Electric water heater anode rod replacement. As mentioned above you might have a water heater with a separate inlet for the anode rod or your anode rod might be installed on the hot water outlet. This is a common problem with older water heaters and in certain parts of the country. 2 partially drain the water heater. This old house plumbing and heating contractor richard trethewey shows a simple way to add years to your water heater by swapping out the sacrificial metal.

Anode rods help prevent corrosion of the hot water heater s glass lined tank. If necessary unscrew and lift off the cover from the top of the heater. An anode rod will corrode and deteriorate over time until it s no longer capable of functioning and has to be replaced. How to remove an anode rod from an a o.

5 if the anode rod won t budge slip a steel pipe onto ratchet wrench handle for extra leverage. A few newer plastic lined tanks have no anode rods to replace before you get started close the shutoff valve turn on the hot water at a faucet to relieve pressure and turn off the electricity or gas to the heater. Changing the anode rod every four years is a great way to extend the life of your water heater. Water heaters use an anode rod to attract and remove sediments from the water being heated.

The anode rod helps prevent tank corrosion. The rod is made from either aluminum or magnesium and. 3 locate the anode rod on the water heater. Since most water heaters use a standard 3 4 npt connection you simply need to choose the type of installation you have.

When the anode rod is depleted it no longer offers corrosion protection for the tank. This diy repair guide explains how to replace the anode rod in an electric water heater. Natural micro organisms and sulfates that exist in some water can react to the aluminum or magnesium anode rods in the hot water tank creating a rotten egg smell. 4 use a ratchet wrench and 1 1 16 inch deep socket to unscrew the anode rod from the heater.