Fort Collins Water Heater Anode Rod Replacement

Here are some tips from Hot Water Heater Repair Fort Collins on replacing th anode rod in ones water
heater.
Water Heater Maintenance: Checking nd replacing ur water heaters anode rod i a key rt f
proper water heater maintenance. On f th biggest potential problems fr a water heater i corrosion.
Whn metal nd water mix, water invariably wins. Sooner r ltr th metal will corrode nd crumble
int nothingness. Whn th water i heated, th process i accelerated. Fr tht reason, givn nugh
time, water will eventually gt th bttr f n water heater, rtiulrl th water heaters tank, nd
nd it uful life.
Tht i wh mt modern tank-type water heaters include a device knwn n anode rod, whih i a
passive t effective corrosion preventative. Al mtim referred t a sacrificial rod, it i a long,
narrow, solid pipe tht i suspended inside th tank nd affixed frm th top f it. Its typically made f
aluminum r magnesium r zinc, r a combination f th metals, ll f whih r rtiulrl
susceptible t th corrosive process, muh mr thn steel nd it alloys. Th theory bhind th
anode rod i that, bu corrosion tnd t feed n it mt vulnerable targets first, th anode rod,
whih serves n thr purpose, will suffer th corrosion tht th steel id f th tank thrwi would,
thrb extending th life expectancy f th tank.
Eventually though, th anode rod will completely corrode nd dissolve, nd will thrfr n longer b
bl t perform it function. Th uul uful life expectancy fr n anode rod i fur t ix years; l
if th water i rtiulrl hard, nd mr if a lower water temperature i nrmll used. Periodically
checking th condition f th anode rod i thrfr n important component f regular water heater
maintenance. Th firt tim huld b whn th water heater i n mr thn tw r thr years old.
In order t check th condition f th anode rod, it will hv t b removed frm th tank. Th firt step
i t turn ff power t th water heatergas t th on/off control knob, electric t th circuit breaker
box r th separate on/off switch box. Next, u will hv t close th cold water shutoff valve, nd
open a nearby hot water tap t llw th pressure inside th tank t equalize. In addition t th steps,
l draw ff a fw gallons f water thrugh th drain valve, in order t lr n remaining water frm
th hot water pipes tht r bv th level f th top f th tank. Th tank itlf nd nt b thrwi
drained.
On th steps hv bn taken, th anode rod n b safely removed. It connection point will b n
th top f th water heater, whr it i threaded int th top f th tank. It m b located undr a cap
tht will hv t b pried ff first. Uing a properly sized wrench r socket (the size i lmt lw 1
1/16 inch), turn it counter-clockwise until it clears th threads. A small amount f water m gush u
frm th opening whn thi happens. Thn carefully remove th anode rod straight upward. Tr nt t
knock it gint i th inside f th tank r th id f th opening, r parts f it m break loose nd
fall inside th tank, t eventually bm mr sediment tht h t b removed during a ltr flushing
process.
Inspect th anode rod carefully. Sm pitting nd surface corrosion i nrml nd t b expected. Large
chunks f metal coating missing frm th surface r portions f it length ntirl missing indit tht
it huld b replaced. A nw one, preferably n pre-cut t th proper length nd intended fr th
rtiulr water heater model, n b purchased t a plumbing supply house r a hardware store.
Whthr reinstalling n existing, still-good anode rod, r installing a nw replacement fr it, thi n

easily b dn n a DIY basis. Simply wrap th threads in Teflon tape, carefully slide th rod back int
th hole, nd tighten it securely.
On th anode rod i securely back in place, open th cold water supply valve, llw th water level in
th tank t top offindicated whn water flows freely frm th nearby open hot water tapturn tht
tap off, nd turn th power t th water heater back on.
Don't hesitate to let us know at Fort Collins Water Heater Repair is you need any assistance with your
water heater at home!