How to Replace an Anode Rod in a Hot Water Tank
In order to understand how important anode rods are to hot water tanks you must understand how they work. In a hot water tank, the inside is coated with porcelain, but there are still imperfections within the surface where rust can form. Anode rods are typically made of magnesium, a metal that corrodes more quickly than other metals. When it starts to corrode, electrons are released. These electrons attach to the imperfections in the tank, prevent corrosion.
Anode rods determine the hot water tank warranty. A five year warranty normally indicates that the anode rod will fail in about five years. Some tanks with longer warranties will have more than one. Plan on replacing your anode rods at the end of the warranty period of your hot water tank. Make sure to note when you do this job to know when you should replace them in the future.
To replace an anode rod you must first begin by removing the old rod that is in the hot water heater. These are found attached to the top of the heater by a female fitting with a 1 1/16″ nut. Sometimes this attachment can be found underneath a top, so if you don’t see a nut on the top of the heater, lift the decorative top of the tank and take a look.
To remove the anode rod in the top of the heater, turn the water off to the tank and twist the nut off with a socket wrench. You should then be able to remove the old anode rod. Sometimes the nut is very difficult to remove. If this is the case, you can use a torch to expand the nut on the tank enough to remove it. If you must use this method to remove the nut from the hot water tank, be sure to push back an insulation before beginning and only heat enough to loosen the nut.
To install the replacement, you should coat the threads with a small amount of pipe joint compound and screw it into place. Only use a small amount of the pipe compound to ensure that the anode rod will still touch the iron of the tank and corrode properly.
Replacing an anode rod is such an easy way to extend the life of your hot water tank that any homeowner should complete this task or hire a professional to replace them. Of course, replacing an anode rod does not extend your warranty, but it will ensure that rust will not be the cause of failure in your hot water heater.
