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.

yea, I think 1 1/16 is standard size

You have to have a cheater bar or an impact wrench.

I had ceiling clearance so I didn't need a flexible one

I talked about doing it a couple of years ago and the resident plumber expert gave me schit for it on here. It was like $13, so it was cheap insurance even if it didn't help.

supposedly if you change them out once in a while and flush the tank , your water heater will have much longer extended life.

I put one in a BRAND NEW tank. (I wanted a different one, to stop possibility of sulfur smell). Tried a breaker bar (with cheater) and it wasn’t happening. The impact wrench was the ONLY way to get it out.

https://www.amazon.com/About-Fluid-...mp;psc=1&refRID=ADR0QE67PS8RAXS2D0Q1

We replaced both of ours after 11 years. The most used water heater essentially had no anode left. The other one had about 25% left. Both are 80 gallon tanks. I will be replacing both in a couple of months. Flip the breaker to the water heater, turn off the water, remove anode, drain the tank, flush the tank and then reinstall, fill with water and energize. I have two flexible 44" magnesium anodes to put in the tanks.

This tool helps immensely. They can be fun to get out. Worst part is draining the tank down. My apologies. Way wrong tool.

Unless your water stinks like a cheap beer and pickled egg fart I’d treat it like a sore pecker and not 9uck with it.

feel free to bump that thread up,

proof positive homeowners can be their own worst enemy.

I'm sorry, but I have no idea where your going with this,

Valve wrench?
for water heaters?

Yup. Sorry. Posted the wrong tool. That one is for the elements. 1-1/16" for the anodes.

It's a cheese dick element removing tool that you'd be wasting your time with attempting to remove a stubborn anode.

Birdwatcher

pay attention....you may have to do this one day

Yup. You're right. It would be a bad idea for an anode. Brain disconnected tonight.

I had one of those sacrificial anodes in my hydronic furnace. I took it out and threw it down in the woods.

And they are about 25 bucks at Home Dumbo.

now I remember who it was

An older retired gentleman comes around every few years and replaces mine, the anode is at the top of the heater and just looks like the top of a bolt from the outside.
Each time he has been here I checked the anode and it was shot with pretty much just the steel remaining, for what it is worth pick up an anode that has grooves machined in to it so that you can bend sections to get it in tight spaces, as most are generally under a low-ish ceiling...or not as the case may be.

It will be a few years before I require another as we put in a new 400 litre heater last year.

They are generally listed on ebay.

They're hard as hell to break loose

Yup. That's what the purpose of the anode is. It attracts the corrosive elements that will rust your Water Heater out

Called Rheem to get part # and then decided to order the anode while speaking to a very nice customer service lady. Asked the usual questions, you the homeowner?, serial number of unit, address, etc, why did I need the anode? Was the old one leaking? No ma'am, precautionary as I'm checking since I hit the 5 year mark in April. Ok, this will ship out FedEx, you'll get tracking # and it should arrive at your door step within 3 days. No charge. Warranty

Working from home due to covid they can't take CC's over their home phones.