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11-15-2017, 12:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Newport News, VA
Posts: 221
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Winterizing - Anode Rod
This is my water heater anode rod after two years. Doesn't look too bad but I think I will replace it anyway. Cheap insurance.
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Merlin B.
U.S. Army Aviator, Retired
2016 Cougar XLite 28SGS
2007.5 Ram 3500 DRW
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11-15-2017, 12:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MerlinB
This is my water heater anode rod after two years. Doesn't look too bad but I think I will replace it anyway. Cheap insurance.
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I've talked to several service techs about the anodes. They suggest changing it out when there's between 1/4 and 1/3 of the material left. Remember that it is designed to self destruct over time to prevent minerals in the water from damaging the tank material. Yours is barely 15% gone so there is plenty of life left in it.
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'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
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11-15-2017, 01:25 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,325
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I agree, I would run it another season.
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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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11-15-2017, 02:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Pennsville
Posts: 231
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I would trash it.
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2018 Passport 2810bh Granite
TV 2014 Ram 1500 Bighorn 4x4 crew cab
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11-15-2017, 02:41 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
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Send it to me. It looks better than the one I took out last year, cleaned up, used this year, cleaned up again last month, and plan to use again next year. It's not that I'm cheap, but I also don't replace my batteries every time they get "recharged" nor do I replace my tires every time I rotate them.... Heck, come to think of it, I don't throw out the rest of a gallon of milk after I pour a glass or two.... maybe I should start rethinking how "thrifty I am" and become more wasteful.....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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11-15-2017, 02:44 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 247
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When I winterize my RV, and drain the water from my water heater, and turn the diverter off, I remove my still good anode rod and replace it with the threaded part of my 1st anode rod that deteriorated. I cut off the deteriorated part.
I dry off the good anode rod, wrap it in paper towel, and store it away until I de-winterize. My RV is 7 yrs old and my 2nd anode rod is still in excellent condition.
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2011 Ford F250 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL (SOLD)
2011 Keystone Cougar 318SAB (SOLD)
2022 Ford F350 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL
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11-15-2017, 02:49 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Pennsville
Posts: 231
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My trips are usually 3 weeks to a month apart so I remove mine after each trip. This keeps me from ever getting smelly water. Plus my anoid looked brand new for 3 years.
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2018 Passport 2810bh Granite
TV 2014 Ram 1500 Bighorn 4x4 crew cab
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11-15-2017, 03:37 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,210
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Is no one noticing that the short area about an inch or so long, right the end of the treads is almost completely gone? The main body of the anode seems in pretty good shape, but the first inch or so by the threads is in danger of breaking in two and leaving the rest of the anode to not be connected. I would definitely replace it.
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2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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11-15-2017, 03:49 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrated
Is no one noticing that the short area about an inch or so long, right the end of the treads is almost completely gone? The main body of the anode seems in pretty good shape, but the first inch or so by the threads is in danger of breaking in two and leaving the rest of the anode to not be connected. I would definitely replace it.
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There is a steel rod where you are looking... I've never seen an anode rod that didn't start the sacrificial process at the threaded plug..
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2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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11-15-2017, 04:06 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Javi
There is a steel rod where you are looking... I've never seen an anode rod that didn't start the sacrificial process at the threaded plug..
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And once again Javi, you have got me straighten out on an RV issue! Most of you know that this is my first camping type trailer.....so thanks for being "gentle"!
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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11-15-2017, 05:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oregon Coast
Posts: 259
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I would just replace it. I change mine once a year(we full-time) and always a spare with me.
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11-15-2017, 08:41 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaulsen
I would just replace it. I change mine once a year(we full-time) and always a spare with me.
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I change mine annually also & carry a spare rod, spare heating element & spare 120 volt & 12 volt thermostats. If you got 2 years from that one, which BTW I would not reuse, then it cost you about $6 per year, they're about $12 to replace.
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Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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11-15-2017, 09:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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I’m beginning my fourth year with the original anode. Still looks good.
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Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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11-15-2017, 10:53 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,907
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I don't winterize as we full time, but I do replace the anode yearly and flush the tank out. Even with all that, I still had to replace the water heater last year due to a crack at a weld, almost $500 for the unit, plus my labor. I figure the little bit spent each year for a new anode is cheap insurance. Since we travel to all parts of the country, we experience all kinds of water and the anode deteriorates differently every year. Not worth guessing how long it will last year to year.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
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11-16-2017, 05:06 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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I generally drain and flush my HWT anytime we will not be using the trailer for more than a couple of weeks.. each time I inspect the anode rod and replace as needed..
Depending on where we've traveled and how long the tank has stayed in service the amount of anode remaining varies greatly.. Some times I've replaced it within a year and sometimes 2 years...
In my case, I would not replace the OP's anode as it sits...
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2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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11-16-2017, 05:48 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,218
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
I’m beginning my fourth year with the original anode. Still looks good.
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Just checked mine and after four years still looks almost new, some pitting, but way better than OP's.
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Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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11-16-2017, 07:18 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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I would think that the change interval would be based on the yearly condition of the anode, rather than a fixed timeframe. Even if one lives in a climate precluding winterizing, an annual HWT flush and anode inspection should be accomplished and should be a frequent enough interval to replace the anode should it’s condition indicate replacement is necessary.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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11-16-2017, 07:29 AM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
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It's the same with a S&B water heater. Most people, if asked, don't even know that their home water heater has an anode rod. Of those that do, probably well over half (the vast majority) have never inspected their anode rod, have never flushed their water heater and many might not even know where it's installed in the appliance.
That might account for the number of water heater replacements that occur in the 7th year of tanks with a 6 year warranty ????
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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11-16-2017, 07:39 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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Maybe like smoke detector batteries and central air/heat filters...
Guilty on the last one.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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11-16-2017, 10:31 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Newport News, VA
Posts: 221
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Hahaha, I didn't intend to start a debate, just wanted to toss out a reminder for those that might not have thought about checking the anode rod at the end of the season. But, I do agree with those who said replacement should be based on condition and not on a fixed schedule.
After reading everyone's comments maybe I will keep it for another year.
Thanks for all of the feedback. It's what keeps this forum interesting.
__________________
Merlin B.
U.S. Army Aviator, Retired
2016 Cougar XLite 28SGS
2007.5 Ram 3500 DRW
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