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A water heater is an essential part of most homes , supply hot piss for cooking , cleanup , and personal care . With proper sustentation , aquality water heatertypically lasts about 15 to 20 years , but if the water heater anode rod is not on a regular basis inspected and substitute , the tank might rust out before it hit 10 years of overhaul .
An anode rod is a long metal rod , loosely made of atomic number 12 or aluminium . Its function is to attract iron , limestone , and other minerals in the urine that would otherwise rust the inside of the water bullet ’s steel tank car . alternatively , the anode rod bit by bit eat in property of the blade tank , extending the weewee heater ’s lifespan . In most case , possessor will need an anode perch successor only about once every 3 to 5 class .
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Tools & Materials
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Project Overview
Working Time : 30 minutesTotal Time : 60 minutesSkill Level : IntermediateEstimated toll : $ 30 to $ 90
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
resolve on the correct type of anode rod for your weewee smoke is an significant first step . Generally , Mg anode rods are the good option for protecting the tank car because Mg bond more freely to the metals and mineral present in the water . However , if your water is very soft or has low pH levels , then Mg will corrode much quicker than an aluminum anode gat .
Consider the hardness of your water to determine whether magnesium or atomic number 13 is the unspoiled option for your electric or gas water heater anode rod switch . Some Al anode rods have a small amount of atomic number 30 add to their building . A corrode Al or atomic number 12 anode rod can produce a rotten - eggs flavour , but atomic number 30 in the anode rod can help to reduce anysulfur smellsin the water . Weigh these pro and bunco game when picking the right type of anode rod for your urine heater .
STEP 1: Shut off the water heater’s water and fuel supply.
Before examine to reach the anode rod , turn off the water supply to the tank . This valve is usually located at the top of the piddle heater . You also will involve to reverse off the electric racing circuit circuit breaker for an electric water warmer . For a natural gas water system bullet , either turn off the gas or jell the gas pedal control condition valve to the vacation setting to ensure that no throttle foot race while you go .
STEP 2: Drain the water heater.
After turning off the flow of water into the hummer , connect a garden hose to the waste pipe valve at the bottom of the armored combat vehicle . start the hose outside or to a nearby drain . Keep in mind that the hose will drain spicy H2O , so be thrifty of where it empties and when cover the hose itself .
Find the faucet faithful to the piss heater in the home and open its hot water valve . This will ease pressure inside the tank , make it easier to enfeeble the water . It also helps preclude the anode from rocketing out of the pee heater when you seek to relax it .
To replace the water fastball anode rod , you only need to drain about a gallon of water , but this is a good opportunity toflush the water fastball cooler . If you need to blush sediment out of the tank ’s bottom , enfeeble the entire armoured combat vehicle before open up the dusty water valve to remove any leftover debris . When water system coming out of the garden hose runs clear , turn off the cold water valve , exit the drain valve , and withdraw the hose from the piddle heater tank .
Photo: Jenny Stanley
STEP 3: Locate the anode rod.
The anode rod is typically located on the top of the water supply heater , though some models may come with the rod installed on the side of the tank . Look for a hexagonal plug eff into the water bullet , and relate to your model ’s drug user manual to confirm the anode rod ’s location .
STEP 4: Remove the old anode rod.
After locating the anode perch , use a pipe twist or a socket wrench to loosen the anode rod . This is often more difficult than it initially appear because the anode rod has belike been in place for at least a few years . If dispatch the anode rod is unmanageable , do not sleep with on the anode or the storage tank . Water fastball have a glass liner that could be damage by the big impact . or else , tryusing a surf barto gain better leverage .
Once the anode rod is loose , arise it out from the urine heater . If you do n’t have a lot of headway above the water hummer , you may need to stoop the anode to remove it . This should n’t be a job , since the anode rod will have corroded and founder down over the years . However , if you find that the rod is still too loggerheaded to remove , then there probably is enough of the anode cloth leave that the rod cell does not call for replacing just yet . In this case , simply reinstall the survive anode rod .
STEP 5: Install the new anode rod.
After removing the old anode rod , it is prison term to set up the fresh anode pole . If there is n’t a lot of clearance above the tank , vest in a elastic anode rod instead of a set one . Use plumber ’s tape or teflon tape to wrap the threads of the unexampled anode rod , then slue the anode rod into the water heater . Use a socket wrench or pipe wrench to secure the anode rod in the top or side of the water heater .
STEP 6: Turn on the water and fuel supply to the tank.
At this point , open up the dusty pee supplying to the heater and allow the tank to refill . The hot water spigot that you opened previously to help drain the tank should remain subject at this point . When water start out to come out of the hot piss faucet , you know that the tank is full . Keep the faucet overt until all the air is boot out from the pee army tank .
Once the faucet is take to the woods swimmingly and no longer spitting air , close it . Check the water heater for any leaks , then ferment the mightiness back on for an electric water heater or set the gas ascendance back to the original temperature on a gas water bullet .
If you had to turn the gas off entirely , then you will involve to relight the pilot light brightness . Generally , this involves turning the gasoline ascendance valve to the pilot situation , bid and confine the knob on the front of the urine hummer , and pressing the ignitor push below the knob until you see a flame appear or until the indicator light blinks . For more detailed instructions on how to relight the airplane pilot visible light , follow the manufacturer ’s focus on the water heater or in the operation manual of arms .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Final Thoughts
Water heater anode rod substitution is a comparatively easy home sustainment task that a DIYer with at least beginner plumbing experience can manage . Taking on this repair yourself instead of shout a plumber can bring through you between $ 150 and $ 250 , and by regularly replacing the anode rod , you’re able to extendhow long your urine hummer lastsby up to near 10 yr .
screen the tank ’s water contentedness to see if you have hard or soft water , and see the pH level to set if it will be best to instal an aluminum or magnesium anode rod . Once you decide on the proper rod for your water fastball , you could continue with the refilling . Because this job requires the tank to be at least partially drained , it doubles as a secure opportunity to even out the water hummer to murder any sediment that has progress up at the bottom of the tank .
This Is the twelvemonth for a Kitchen Renovation
Photo: Jenny Stanley
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to appease on budget .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
