water heater: removing anode rod

[George]

(7-yr old 40-gal gas heater)

Our hot water got suddenly very 'rusty' two days ago. Cold water is clear. I flushed the tank several times, and it still comes out dirty. The company says to replace the anode rod. The question is, how?

It's threaded into the top of the tank. I've soaked around the head with PB Blaster, but I doubt that's getting to the threads. Right now, I'm using a 1/2" breaker bar with an extension pipe, and getting nothing. I'm reluctant to use heat (acetylene), because, while the insulation doesn't sustain combustion, it does sort of burn a little.

Any experience/suggestions would be appreciated. In particular, would it be OK to use heat?

Thanks, George

[trader4]

I used a breaker bar, with 1 1/8 socket, and pipe extension to loosen mine. Was tight, but not to the point where I was worried that something would give. Make sure the tank is nearly full, that will give you something to pull against. I agree about not using a torch to heat. On mine there was little room to get at it, even if you wanted to heat it.

[Zephyr]

Can't really comment on the heat / no heat option sorry, but, here are my 2 cents on the whole scenario

I don't know how much torque you are putting on the heater, but I found that having someone there to help hold the heater in place when trying to break the threads free was a wise idea. You could rip the heater right off its moorings if you tried hard enough.

all that a side, I don't see how replacing the anode is going to fix your rust problem. The anode is there to prevent rust, the rod itself ( with the exception of a wire down the inside of the anode material) doesn't really rust but more just disintegrates. If you have rust in the heater, a new anode may slow down the development of more rust, but, you still have rust there. And if you have rust in the tank, that means that some part of the tank is no longer as strong as it once was.

Dave

[Robert Barr]

George wrote: Right now,

I've used a portable air tank and an automotive style impact driver.

[George]

I threaded a piece of 3/4" black pipe into the T&P outlet, and use that to brace against.

There's a lot I don't know about this. It's odd that the rust (if that's what it is) showed up so abruptly. The mfr's warranty support insists that the rod will fix it. The rod is only $20; so, other than the difficulty of getting it out, I'm willing to try.

I'm now considering taking the top of the shell off. That would let me pull the insulation out of the way, and then I could go with the torch.

G

[Art Todesco]

Ya, don't believe the manufacturer. On mine they said, the reason for large swings in temperature was sediment and that I must put vinegar in the tank, let it sit and then flush it out. Didn't work, no how. About the only thing is that for about 2 weeks, when showering, we had a hankering for salad, until it all flushed clean. On my new tank, I had a leak at the anode rod. This was brand new, right out of the box. As I didn't want to un-install it and return it, I tried to tighten it. I got one of those sockets from the plumbing department where you put a large screwdriver or rod through it, for leverage. I bent the screwdriver and a rod. I finally put 2 pipe wrenches on the socket, and with

2 people, one on each wrench, we were able to loosen it. Put Teflon tape on the threads and torqued it down. I know it's making contact, as I checked with an ohmmeter. But, we got the leak stopped.

[Just Joshin]

Not that I've ever done this, but I remember someone saying tapping it once or twice can help. Just a story I remember, but I found some extra inform on the web:

Good luck,

tom @

[tylernt]

If you don't have an air compressor big enough (or don't want to spend the bucks for a nice air tool), you can get an electric impact driver from Harbor Freight Tools for about $100 (they have a weaker one that's even less). Anyway, the thing is massive and must weigh 20 pounds but mine has yet to meet a bolt it couldn't shake loose (even transmission mounting bolts with plenty of permanent red threadlocker).

[Don Young]

Rust or other sediment generally shows up in the water because something in the water supply has been disturbed. Sometimes just a loss of pressure will cause it when the water comes back on. If the water company flushes the fire hydrants, you can get rust for a while afterward. It nearly always clears by itself after a day or so.

It may take a 6 point socket and a lot of torque to loosen the anode. There is some possibility that something else will give way before it loosens so it may not be worthwhile on a heater that old. I would just flush the heater good and wait for it to clear up.

Don Young

[Ermalina]

The time to replace the anode rod is before the tank begins to rust. I sounds like your tank has rusted considerably.

However, if you want to try replacing the anode rod now, use an impact wrench to remove the old one. Tighten the new one by hand.

[George]

The anode rod finally came free, just with repeatedly using the (extended) breaker bar. And, it's _not_ rusty, contrary to the mfr's certainty of that. They were saying it was the rod that was prodcing the rust, after its plating had been exhausted. Instead, it's coated with white slug (lime?)

So, the rust must be coming from the tank. For 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

[hallerb]

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...

[George]

nd, it's _not_ rusty, contrary to the mfr's

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

[trader4]

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.

[hallerb]

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:(

[oklaman]

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.

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:(

[hallerb]

[Zephyr]

Glad you got it open, Mine looks the same with the "sludge" scary to think you drink/shower in that. but oh well. I put hydrogen peroxide in mine every month or 2 to kill a sulfur smell that grows from bacteria in my well.

Dave

[hallerb]

Technically you shouldnt drink hot water, for health reasons, nice cozy warm tank excellent place to grow bacteria

[mm]

They make open-end impact wrenches?** What about just using an open=end wrench and hitting it with a hammer? (while wearing goggles)

**Or is he supposed to cut the pipe off first?