Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Water heater anode replace

Never replaced one. But installed a Rheem 5 yrs ago and it's in great shape, but that anode may be shot. Anything more than removing the anode and screwing new one in....I've seen where the removal can be the worst.

Turn off the water, release the pressure. And removal could be a B****

I dinode the answer....

Why do you want to replace it?

Can anything catastrophic take place with removal? Insert smiley

How long do they last? Mfr recommends 5 yrs.

Not much positive response is a good thing when working on an anode....

I put one in last year and it was frustrating. The threads were really fine, and due to the weight of the rod, it was had to get squared up. I put some crisco on the threads as antiseize.
So for me getting the threads started was a b1tch. I swore they gave me the wrong threads until I got it aligned right.

How old was your anode TK?

Geez, My water heater has been in service for 14 years, I didn't know about changing anything... Where is it? I drain it once in awhile...

I have never changed one.
Hope that helps.

I drained my WH this past weekend, got me to thinking about the anode.

How long do people live?

There is no actual answer, too many variables.

Has a Plumber, I've never removed one of mine, ever, but for work, I've removed many, usually for smelly water.

inch and 1/16th socket, possibly deep well, and a breaker bar, may take two people.

Some come easy, some I've had to walk away from.

Sounds like one of those extra torqued water heaters for the Frozen Tundra

Well, I don't have smelly water. I wouldn't get to aggressive with removal, if it comes with some effort it gets replaced. I'm not gonna fret over it if I can't wrench it out.

5 years. Water here is pretty hard on anodes. My Dad was a plumber, so I am drawn to do stuff like this. I try to keep up on maintenance stuff in general.

And what was the condition of the Anode you removed?

I hope he is getting a picture of it

Well done!

Some of those are in REALLY tight, even new ones.

The tank will want to rotate (and screw up your plumbing) when you try and loosen it. Most are usually 1-1/16 or 1-1/8 (forget which). They are slso often buried a few inches down in foam (use a knife, long pliers, mirror to get the foam out of there.

Your best bet is to have an air or electric impact wrench, and 6”-12” extension, to get it out.

Most are aluminum. I put in a Zinc-alum, because you are less likely to get the sulfur smell with those in place.

If you don’t have at least 3’ or so clearance above the water heater, you may want to get one of the “flexible” rods (essentially a piece of stainless steel cable, with 3-4 12” anodes down its’ length). Otherwise, you won’t have enough room to stick a 36” to 48” rod into the top of the heater.

You can cut the OLD one in pieces, as you pull it out, if it is too long.