Home Page link

water heater: removing anode rod

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 5 of 8       < 1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
water heater: removing anode rod George 02-13-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 14, 2007, 7:56 am


> >(7-yr old 40-gal gas heater)
>
> >Our hot water got suddenly very 'rusty' two days ago. =A0Cold water is
> >clear. =A0I flushed the tank several times, and it still comes out dirty.
> >The company says to replace the anode rod. =A0The question is, how?
>
> >...
>
> The anode rod finally came free, just with repeatedly using the
> (extended) breaker bar. =A0And, it's _not_ rusty, contrary to the mfr's
> certainty of that. =A0They were saying it was the rod that was prodcing
> the rust, after its plating had been exhausted. =A0Instead, it's coated
> with white slug (lime?)
>
> So, the rust must be coming from the tank. =A0For the cost of a rod, I
> think I'll go ahead and replace it, do the vinegar flush thing, and see
> where it takes us.
>
> G

The tank is bad! Replace it now or live with rusty water and know tank
WILL leak and perhaps flood! You will have NO hot water! No doubt at
the most iconvenient time:(

Tanks are cheap enough I replace mine every 10 years wether its bad or
not.

After a BAD experience where it failed during a blizzard and took 3
days to replace, occured on a sunday just after stores closed next day
storm, had trouble hetting parts, leaky fittings.

OBVIOUSLY your a new homeowner, once you have a little unpleasant
exp[eriences you will KNOW you should just replace the tank, espically
when your wife and kids are mad theres no hot water for bathing....

Homeowners 101 you havent gotten your certificate of achivement YET:(


The white slugey stuff is normal...


PexSupply QuikTrak 468x60
Posted by George on February 14, 2007, 8:57 am


wrote:

>> >(7-yr old 40-gal gas heater)
>>
>> >Our hot water got suddenly very 'rusty' two days ago.
old water is
>> >clear.          flushed the tank several times, and it still comes out dirty.
>> >The company says to replace the anode rod. he question is, how?
>>
>> >...
>>
>> The anode rod finally came free, just with repeatedly using the
>> (extended) breaker bar.
nd, it's _not_ rusty, contrary to the mfr's
>> certainty of that. hey were saying it was the rod that was prodcing
>> the rust, after its plating had been exhausted.         nstead, it's coated
>> with white slug (lime?)
>>
>> So, the rust must be coming from the tank. or the cost of a rod, I
>> think I'll go ahead and replace it, do the vinegar flush thing, and see
>> where it takes us.
>>
>> G
>
>The tank is bad! Replace it now or live with rusty water and know tank
>WILL leak and perhaps flood! You will have NO hot water! No doubt at
>the most iconvenient time:(
>
>Tanks are cheap enough I replace mine every 10 years wether its bad or
>not.
>
>After a BAD experience where it failed during a blizzard and took 3
>days to replace, occured on a sunday just after stores closed next day
>storm, had trouble hetting parts, leaky fittings.
>
>OBVIOUSLY your a new homeowner, once you have a little unpleasant
>exp[eriences you will KNOW you should just replace the tank, espically
>when your wife and kids are mad theres no hot water for bathing....
>
>Homeowners 101 you havent gotten your certificate of achivement YET:(
>
>
>The white slugey stuff is normal...

Actually, we've been in this house for 17 yrs (I think), and replaced
the WH once before. It leaked, water ran to the cellar floor drain.
We've been w/o hot water for 3 days now (I think), and we're managing -
just keep some heat on the stove. In the spectrum of things that can
(and have) gone wrong, it's no big deal.

All the same, we aren't necessarily expecting this to last. But, for
$20, it's a worthwhile experiment.

G

Posted by on February 14, 2007, 10:08 am


> wrote:
>
> >> >(7-yr old 40-gal gas heater)
>
> >> >Our hot water got suddenly very 'rusty' two days ago.
> old water is
> >> >clear. flushed the tank several times, and it still comes out dirty.
> >> >The company says to replace the anode rod. he question is, how?
>
> >> >...
>
> >> The anode rod finally came free, just with repeatedly using the
> >> (extended) breaker bar.
>
> nd, it's _not_ rusty, contrary to the mfr's
>
>
>
>
>
> >> certainty of that. hey were saying it was the rod that was prodcing
> >> the rust, after its plating had been exhausted. nstead, it's coated
> >> with white slug (lime?)
>
> >> So, the rust must be coming from the tank. or the cost of a rod, I
> >> think I'll go ahead and replace it, do the vinegar flush thing, and see
> >> where it takes us.
>
> >> G
>
> >The tank is bad! Replace it now or live with rusty water and know tank
> >WILL leak and perhaps flood! You will have NO hot water! No doubt at
> >the most iconvenient time:(
>
> >Tanks are cheap enough I replace mine every 10 years wether its bad or
> >not.
>
> >After a BAD experience where it failed during a blizzard and took 3
> >days to replace, occured on a sunday just after stores closed next day
> >storm, had trouble hetting parts, leaky fittings.
>
> >OBVIOUSLY your a new homeowner, once you have a little unpleasant
> >exp[eriences you will KNOW you should just replace the tank, espically
> >when your wife and kids are mad theres no hot water for bathing....
>
> >Homeowners 101 you havent gotten your certificate of achivement YET:(
>
> >The white slugey stuff is normal...
>
> Actually, we've been in this house for 17 yrs (I think), and replaced
> the WH once before. It leaked, water ran to the cellar floor drain.
> We've been w/o hot water for 3 days now (I think), and we're managing -
> just keep some heat on the stove. In the spectrum of things that can
> (and have) gone wrong, it's no big deal.
>
> All the same, we aren't necessarily expecting this to last. But, for
> $20, it's a worthwhile experiment.
>
> G- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


Interesting that the manufacturer says the rod itself can produce the
rust. It thought they were just a solid rod of a sacrificial
metal. But sounds like they are saying the center is made of steel?
In any case, sounds like your anode rod looks normal. I recently
inspected mine, and I'd say it may be about half gone after about 6
years. It also had the white sludge like stuff on it, which is the
desired reaction of the rod slowly erroding, hopefully instead of the
tank.


If the rust is only coming from the water heater, then I agree, it may
be time to just get a new one.



Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 14, 2007, 10:41 am


No hot shower is a biggie for us, less important for tub bathers.

So you have gone 3 days without hot water, spent 20 bucks on a anode
rod, how much will the vinegar cost, you will need a LOT to really
clean the tank since the rust MIGHT b formed in the bottom but then
again MAY be near the top:(

Letus know how it goes your family must be patient:) I KNOW mine never
is:(


Posted by oklaman on February 14, 2007, 11:47 am


Some time ago Consumer Reports cut open water heater to check the insides.

As I recall, the 9 or 12 year warranty heaters contained much better
insulation that the 6 year warranty.

If you decide to replace it...
No hot shower is a biggie for us, less important for tub bathers.

So you have gone 3 days without hot water, spent 20 bucks on a anode
rod, how much will the vinegar cost, you will need a LOT to really
clean the tank since the rust MIGHT b formed in the bottom but then
again MAY be near the top:(

Letus know how it goes your family must be patient:) I KNOW mine never
is:(



Page 5 of 8       < 1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
water heater anode rod December 19, 2005, 12:20 pm
Stuck water heater sacrificial anode December 7, 2007, 12:33 pm
A. O. Smith water heater anode rod and warranty question September 16, 2006, 9:23 am
Draining (hot) water heater and checking sacrificial anode October 18, 2007, 7:23 pm
Anode ideas for spa copper heater June 19, 2007, 10:18 pm
I just learned water heaters have an "anode" and its important June 8, 2007, 11:43 am
Removing an electric baseboard heater March 27, 2008, 8:44 pm
tankless water heater vs. small water heater. October 14, 2006, 10:36 pm
hot water heater leak and tankless water heater? October 28, 2006, 6:42 pm
Hot water heater is really a luke warm heater May 15, 2007, 1:57 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap