Hi, I'm Vance and welcome to Repair and Replace.
Here's something to think about.
Water heaters warm up hundreds of gallons of water
but somehow the steel doesn't immediately rust.
Well you have the anode rod to thank for that.
Like a lightning rod, the anode attracts the corrosive elements in the water,
sacrificing itself to protect the tank.
Overall it best to replace the anode before it
becomes too corroded and can no longer protect the tank.
Most anode rods will last 4 - 6 years, but this depends on the pH and purity of the water.
In this episode we'll learn how the anode rod works,
how to choose a replacement, and how to install it.
The hot water inside a water heater contains minerals and other dissolved particles,
creating a perfect environment for corrosion to take place.
Now tanks are coated with a thin glass lining to protect the inside metal walls.
This lining doesn't always cover 100% of the tank, and can also become cracked overtime.
Fortunately the anode rod will corrode first, preventing any exposed iron from rusting.
As it's slowly eaten away, a scale is formed overtop.
Both the scale and the sediment in the water will build up on the bottom of the tank.
This acts as an insulator which reduces the efficiency of the water heater.
This is why its important to flush the tank every year as a part of regular maintenance.
During maintenance, check the rod to monitor how much corrosion has taken place.
If you can see the bare steel core, or if the rod is completely incased
with calcium, then the anode will have to be replaced.
When choosing an anode rod, you'll come across several different types.
Aluminium rods are the most common and are factory installed in a lot of tanks.
On the other hand, magnesium rods are safer for drinking water but might not last as long.
Most anodes will be installed in the middle of the tank.
Other rods are integrated into the hot water outlet.
It's a little more involved to replace these so it's best to call a technician.
To begin, you'll need a one-and-one-sixteenth inch socket, a half inch drive socket wrench,
a breaker bar, a screwdriver and needle nose pliers.
You'll also need a bucket, teflon tape, and a wire brush.
If you have an electric water heater, then shut off the power at the breaker.
For gas water heaters, turn the gas supply off, or perpendicular to the pipe.
Now set the water heater to the pilot setting, and turn the gas control off.
Next shut off the cold supply.
Keep in mind that the water inside the tank is still hot,
so use caution when draining or accessing the tank.
First open a hot water faucet in the house.
This will let in air and relieve pressure in the system.
Place a bucket underneath the drain valve.
Open the valve to drain several gallons of water.
This will reduce the pressure in the tank.
Ideally you want to leave most of the water in the tank,
as the weight will keep it from sliding around.
The anode rode is sometimes under a plastic cover.
If you haven't checked it in years, it might be stuck in place,
and will be difficult to remove.
To prevent the tank from shifting, you can use a piece of wood to stablize the tank.
Alternatively you can get another person to help support it.
To get it started, you'll need to increase the torque.
One way is to use a breaker bar.
Additionally you can use a copper pipe as an extension or snipe.
Once the nut is starting to spin, then you should be able to use
a regular socket wrench to unscrew it.
Now use the needle nose pliers to remove the anode rod.
To get a good seal, its best to clean out the threads with a wire brush.
Next apply the teflon tape.
This will help seal the threads and make it easier to remove and check the rod.
Looking at the threads, tape is always applied in a
clockwise direction, so that the tape stays on when tightened.
Wrap three to six times, keeping it tight the whole way through.
Leave the last part of the thread bare,
to prevent any tape from breaking off into the tank.
Now screw the nut into place until it is hand tight.
Finally use the socket wrench to tighten it into place.
first, double check that there is a hot water faucet open in the house.
Now open the cold water supply to fill the tank.
Check the faucet, you should hear the air being pushed out of the system.
Close the faucet once you get a smooth stream of water.
This will tell you that the tank is full, and the air has been removed.
If you have an electric water heater, turn on the power at the breaker.
For gas water heaters, turn on the gas, and relight the pilot.
To see how to relight the pilot, watch the video linked below.
Hopefully this has helped you install a new anode rod.
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And if you need help, you can call or visit an AMRE location
to talk with our knowledgeable staff. Thanks for watching.