What Does an Anode Rod Do in a Water Heater?
- Protecting Your Water Heater. Water heaters are susceptible to rust and corrosion because of the materials used to construct them and how these materials react to water.
- Evaluating the Anode Rod. ...
- Helping Keep Your Water Heaters in Great Shape. ...
What does an anode rod do in a water heater?
What Does an Anode Rod Do in a Water Heater?
- Protecting Your Water Heater. Water heaters are susceptible to rust and corrosion because of the materials used to construct them and how these materials react to water.
- Evaluating the Anode Rod. ...
- Helping Keep Your Water Heaters in Great Shape. ...
What does the anode rod in my water heater do?
- The temperature-pressure relief (TPR) valve maintains safe temperatures and pressures in the tank as per manufacturing design. ...
- The drain valve is how water is allowed to drain out of the heater without going through the outflow pipe.
- The metal anode rod sits at the top of the tank and helps purify the water.
How often should I change a water heater anode rod?
Top 5 reasons to replace the anode rod:
- You want to extend the lifespan of your water heater and maintain your manufacturer’s warranty.
- You want to avoid water heater leaks.
- Your water heater is making popping and banging noises when heating, potentially signaling tank corrosion.
- It’s been 3 or more years since you’ve checked or changed the anode rod.
Why do water heaters need an anode?
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Aluminum
How often should you change the anode rod in a water heater?
By replacing your anode rod every 3-5 years, your water heater can last well over 20 years without any risk of leaks and resulting water damage. Unfortunately, if you ignore this important water heater maintenance task, you may need to replace the entire water heater after only 10 years of use.
Can you run a water heater without an anode rod?
Water heaters don't need anode rods to function, but they help preserve the quality of the water and can double the lifespan of the heater. Without anode rods, a water tank will corrode and leak or even burst. Anode rods are designed to deteriorate, so they need to be replaced in order to remain functional.
Is anode rod necessary?
Anode rods are an essential component of tank-style water heaters. Most anode rods are sacrificial, meaning they are designed to corrode (instead of your water heater lining). Because they are meant to break down, they wear out every few years and need to be replaced.
What happens if you don't change your anode rod?
Since the lining eventually cracks, tanks have a second line of defense against rust: a long metal “anode rod” that attracts corrosive elements in the water. When the rod itself becomes so corroded that it can no longer do its job, the tank soon rusts out, leaks and needs replacement.
Can anode rod causing rotten egg smell?
The most common cause of smelly water is anaerobic bacteria that exist in some water and react with the magnesium and aluminum sacrificial anodes that come with most water heaters to produce hydrogen sulfide gas, making the classic rotten egg odor.
Will replacing anode rod get rid of smell?
1:039:37Fix Smelly Well Water Replace Anode Rod with Zinc to Remove Rotten ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet about a one gallon of water fall down from the hot water heater. And what will happen is theMoreLet about a one gallon of water fall down from the hot water heater. And what will happen is the vacuum created inside the hot water here puts like a negative pressure and it'll only drain out about
How long will hot water heater last without anode rod?
The longevity of water heaters without anode rods is about: 5-8 years. The actual lifespan depends on water hardness, water heater type and quality, when the anode rod was removed, and how hot the water is. In extreme cases, the water heater may only last 3-5 years without an anode rod.
How much does it cost to replace a water heater anode rod?
An anode rod costs about $50. Some homeowners may feel comfortable replacing it themselves. If not, call a professional plumber, who can assist. The cost of having it replaced professionally may be around $250 or $300.
Do all hot water tanks have anode rod?
Glass-lined tank-style gas water heaters require anode rods because the tank will face significant corrosion without a sacrificial anode rod to protect it. However, stainless steel tank-style gas water heaters do not require anode rods since stainless steel resists corrosion.
How do you know your anode rod is bad?
A bad anode rod can cause discolored water, a rotten egg smell, air in the lines and intermittent hot water. The anode rod protects the tank of electric water heaters & signs it should be replaced are a rotten egg smell, no heat & strange sounds.
Do plumbers replace anode rods?
Plus, there are different base materials for anode rods – including magnesium, aluminum, and zinc – which are designed for maximum protection based on your water composition. For those reasons, we recommend having your anode rod inspected and replaced by a licensed plumber.
How long does a water heater anode rod last?
about three to five yearsWhen there's no sacrificial metal left on the anode rod, your water heater tank can rust out, eventually causing it to burst. Anode rods generally can last about three to five years but it really depends mostly on the quality of your water and how much water travels through your water heater.
What is an anode rod in a water heater?
The anode is a sacrificial rod in the water heater tank used to attract corrosive elements from your water away from the metal tank. Also made of m...
How do I know if my anode rod is bad?
Anode rod corrosion will become evident upon visual inspection, but may also be recognized by these symptoms: smelly water or film on the faucet ae...
What happens if your anode rod goes bad?
Your water heater will still function if your anode rod goes bad, but you may experience premature hot water tank corrosion as a result. It is advi...
Why do water heaters need anode rods replaced?
However, anode rods need to be replaced every so often because they wear out faster than the lifespan of the water heater.
What is an anode rod?
The anode rod is a piece designed to slow down corrosion and rusting in water heaters. The rod is made of magnesium, which wears out faster than steel. When water corrodes the magnesium, the anode rod releases electrons into the tank which form a protective barrier around the steel of the tank.
Why do you need to replace anode rods?
However, anode rods need to be replaced every so often because they wear out faster than the lifespan of the water heater. If you have a standard tank-style heater (as opposed to a tankless model), you need to check the rod every so often and replace it as necessary.
Does water rust when heated?
Water is naturally acidic, and the steel used to make the tanks undergoes the rusting and corroding process when it comes in contact with oxygen or moisture. The heating aspect may make your water nice and hot, but this heat speeds up the corrosion process.
What is an anode rod in a water heater?
The anode is a metal rod that serves an important function inside your water heater tank. It’s found in both gas and electric tank models. The anode rod can prolong the life of your water heater unit by subverting corrosive activity that is normal when water contacts metal.
How crucial is the purpose of the anode rod in a water heater?
The water heater anode rod function often goes unnoticed, but it performs a crucial role in extending the life of your unit. The anode rod purpose can be viewed as similar to a lightning rod or grounding wire.
What metal is a water heater anode rod made of?
The anode rod can be made of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, or a combination of these. It’s the anode rod that is on the front-lines, fighting the corrosion from within the tank of your gas or electric water heater unit.
How do I know if my anode rod is bad or ready for replacement?
Just like other plumbing items, you should inspect your water heater anode rod every three to five years to assess corrosion. Checking for tank corrosion should be part of your water heater maintenance. There are some things you can look for to identify anode rod corrosion.
Final Thoughts on Anode Rods for Water Heaters
Now you know what a water heater anode rod is, what it does, and how often you need to check and change it. It’s an important yet often overlooked element in every water heater tank that needs proper attention and eventual replacement to extend the lifespan of your unit.
Why do we need anode rods in water heaters?
The anode rod is one of the most essential parts of a standard hot water heater because it helps to prevent tank corrosion and rusting.
Why do water heaters have anode rods?
The anode rod helps counteract those conditions and extends the life and performance of your water heater. In fact, its purpose is to wear itself down to maintain the tank. As the rod erodes, it releases electrons into the water heater tank , which helps slow or prevent corrosion in the tank.
How does water affect anode rods?
The chemistry of your water will have a particularly significant effect on how long the rod lasts. The more acidic your water is, for instance, the more quickly the rod is likely to erode. The material your rod is made of also determines how long it lasts. Most anode rods are made of magnesium, which corrodes quickly.
What does an anode rod do?
There’s heat. There’s a metal storage tank. And those are perfect conditions for rust and corrosion. The anode rod helps counteract those conditions and extends the life and performance of your water heater.
How much does it cost to replace a water heater rod?
The good news, though, is that it generally only costs around $20 to $50 for a replacement rod and between $50 and $150 per hour to hire a professional ...
Is aluminum anode rod good for hard water?
Though not as common as magnesium, aluminum anode rods are a solid choice, especially if you have hard water. They’re relatively inexpensive and tend to last longer than the standard magnesium rod. And then there’s the electrical, or “non-sacrificial,” anode rod. This kind of rod is designed not to rust at all.
Can you replace anode rods in a hot water heater?
If the corrosion hasn’t advanced, you can probably solve the problem and extend the life of your hot water heater by replacing the anode rod. This isn’t generally something you should attempt on your own, though, because removing the rod requires special tools that most people don’t have. In addition, the rods require a lot of overhead clearance.
What is the purpose of anode rods in water heaters?
What Is The Purpose Of The Anode Rod In A Water Heater? Your beloved water heater, it provides you with a warm place to bathe your body after a sweaty day at work, it gives you warmth and comfort as you wash your hands (hopefully) after you use the sink and it is what is required by dish washers.
What is an anode rod?
The anode is a fitting that comes with just about every water heater (except tankless kinds) and consists of one of the following materials : Zinc. Magnesium. Aluminum. This anode rod will essentially act as a focal point inside the tank to allow water and oxygen to focus on it and eat away at it slowly over time.
Why does an anode deteriorate?
The reason the anode is the thing that deteriorates first is simply because the less noble materials give off their electrons at a quicker rate. With water heaters costing what they cost plus installation, it’s a no-brainer why this rod is utilized. Costs Of Replacing Your Water Heater Vs. Replacing Your Anode Rod.
Why do we need anode rods?
The anode rod is designed to act as a less noble material than the Steel tank of the water heater. This is so that water will disintegrate the anode rod long before it does the water heater, thus lengthening it’s lifespan. Anode rods come in different sizes, materials and costs and, like an oil change on a car, ...
How long is a water heater rod?
This rod is also sometimes referred to as a “sacrificial rod” because of it’s nature. This rod threads into your water heater from the top and averages about 44″ in length, but both smaller and longer sizes are available for different sized tanks.
Can you have corrosion on anode rods?
No corrosion – It is also possible that you have installed a rod that just isn’t working. If after a month of being in service the rod looks like you just took it out of the box, then it isn’t doing it’s job and your tank is suffering because of it. Consider getting a powered anode rod if this is the case.
Do water heaters need servicing?
Inevitably though, like just about all mechanical things on Earth your water heater will need servicing. One of the most commonly overlooked or unknown things about a water heater is also arguably it’s most important feature; the anode rod. Not knowing about this fixture inside of a water heater has costed people hundreds, ...
What Is the Anode Rod?
This is literally a rod that is inserted into the tank of your water heater. This component is most commonly made of magnesium, and this is by design. Magnesium breaks down much quicker than steel does, and hot water tanks are made of steel. So, why would you want a magnesium rod breaking down in a steel tank? Well, so that the steel doesn’t!
Protecting the Water Heater Tank
Steel is a very useful material, but eventually, it rusts and corrodes. Chances are, you already know this. It’s pretty basic chemistry–water causes metals to rust. Well, your tank water heater’s manufacturer is aware of this as well, which is why the tank has a couple of lines of defense within it.
How long is a water heater anode rod?
However, the length and type of the anode rod made are not the same. Some anode rods are 33 inches in length while others are 44 inches in length. You may need to cut it down to fit your water heater if you have a smaller tank.
Why do people not use anodes for water heaters?
Despite being so awesome, people do not normally use powered anode rods for water heater tanks because they are expensive.
How long do anode rods last?
Anode rods generally can last about three to five years but it really depends on the manufacturer, quality of your water, and how much water travels through your water heater. If you have soft water, the anode rod will deteriorate at a much faster rate.
Why does sediment build up in anode rods?
Whether you have an anode rod or not, sediments will always build-up at the bottom of the tank due to corrosion of either anode rod or steel tank —if anode rod is not present to sacrifice itself. Aluminum anode rods particularly cause great annoyance with their sediment.
How long do you have to replace anode rods?
In Hard water, the rods corrode quickly so you might have to replace your anode rod before the standard three years period. If your water is Alkaline, a magnesium rod can help reduce some of the scales that form inside your water tank due to the high alkalinity.
What is the principle of sacrificial anode protection?
The principle behind sacrificial anode protection is Bimetallic corrosion. Bimetall ic corrosion, as its name suggests, is a type of corrosion that occurs when two different metals are paired together. One metal experiences accelerated corrosion while the other remains protected.
Why does my water heater rust?
Because aluminum corrodes more slowly than magnesium, it may not be enough to combat corrosion in some water heaters. Your heater may slowly start to rust, despite having a functioning anode rod.
