Replacing anode rods in water heaters?

[LouB]

Thanks for the reminder:-))

Lou

[LouB]

bob haller wrote: snipped

How is a new heater going to be more efficient? Is there a new way to heat water with electricity (other than microwave)? What is the source of your valves comment?

Lou

[Bill]

I have successfully removed anode rods with an impact wrench. (Compressed air powered like they use to remove lugs when changing tires.)

[Percival P. Cassidy]

I misremembered: the instructions say to inspect the anode annually

*after the warranty period has expired*. In our case that is twelve years. I had tried to remove the anode in the old water heater but was unable to shift it with as much force as I felt comfortable applying. That was a 6-year warranty unit that was 11 years old, so I replaced it preemptively, since there is no floor drain anywhere nearby.

Perce

[Percival P. Cassidy]

Better insulation. Electronic thermostats. For gas water heaters: eliminate the pilot light.

Perce

[Bob F]

How on earth are you going to "booger a thread"? These are pipe threads. Not exactly fragile things.

[trader4]

That assumes of course that you choose to spend the money on a more expensive tank when you replace it. However, if you have a modest cost tank and replace it with a similar one, it's unlikely you're going to save much energy. AFAIK, tanks are still available that have pilot lights, no? BTW, how is an electronic thermostat supposed to save energy over a mechanical one? I'd rather have the simple mechanical one, instead of another more expensive piece of electronics subject to surge damage, etc.

[Roger Shoaf]

DONT open plastic tank drain valves, they have ONLY one purpose to drain tank atr end of life!!

Replace with full port ball valve.

[JIMMIE]

When I was a kid I needed an anode rod for a science experiment. Well I went down to the local hardware store and while they had some the guy there said I could save some money by scavaging for what I needed at the dump. When I got there they had a section of the dump with them piled up. I pulled a dozen of the things and there wasnt enough degradation of any of them to mention.

Jimmie

[Winston]

That's odd.

Could you see rust on the bottom of the tanks?

--Winston

[Puddin' Man]

You never know until you size it up?

My 16 year-old gas AO Smith yielded the anode w/o much trouble, no special tools. Anode had about 60% left. It'll come off again in a couple years.

I would look the heater over carefully. If it looks too long-in-the-tooth, leave it alone. If it looks good and solid, I'd squirt some thread- loosener on the nut and very carefully try to break it.

New anode is $30-40. New heater is (what?) about $350?

P

"Law Without Equity Is No Law At All. It Is A Form Of Jungle Rule."

[Nate Nagel]

More than that, around here. At least for gas ones - electrics might run about that.

nate

[Bob F]

Especially if your dealing with a direct vent or power vent model.

[Bob F]

Nonsense. I've used them multiple times without problems.

Excellent suggestion anyway.

[Bob F]

That's all those people that replace the tank because it's old, not because it needs to be replaced.

[Phisherman]

I think water heater anodes are best left alone. But I do give the tank an occasional 5-gallon flush. Supposedly a manufacturer recommended an expansion tank to extend tank life.

[Bob F]

If you don't have a pressure regulator or anti-backflow device, the expansion tank is a waste. Unless you turn off the water but leave the tank on, and have a tank thermostat failure.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Now that's funny ! ! !

[Ed Pawlowski]

Do a search on the history in this newsgroup and see how many posts deal with broke drain valves on water heaters. One of the biggest problems with valves is non use and they get corroded and cannot turn or will not seal when closed. While at it, check for the posts about washing machine valves that don't close too.

I just heard a story this morning about a job gone wrong. A crane and crew called in to replace some equipment. Crew was told, everything is ready, you just have to turn the air off. Well, the air valve has not been turned in years. It was a five hour project getting it turned off.

[Bob F]

But I don't wait for years before using the valve. Maybe that's the difference.