water heater anode

[ccarr113]

tested the hot water system out for the first time(in the driveway only).
So far I am very happy with the job that the service center did.  My question is when I drained the water out of the drain plug I thought the plug would be attached to an anode rod but it wasn't.  Is an anode rod not a standard feature?  Is the anode rod somewhere else?  Should I get an anode rod? Anyone have any advice

I have an ATWOOD gas/electric 6 gal water heater.

[AustinBoston]

tested the hot water system out for the first time(in the driveway only).
So far I am very happy with the job that the service center did.  My question is when I drained the water out of the drain plug I thought the plug would be attached to an anode rod but it wasn't.  Is an anode rod not a standard feature?  Is the anode rod somewhere else?  Should I get an anode rod? Anyone have any advice

I have an ATWOOD gas/electric 6 gal water heater.

It is possible that there used to be an anode on the plug, and that it is now completely gone.  It is possible that a previous owner did not realize that it was important and just replaced the anode with a plug.

Some HWH's are glass-lined and don't need an anode, but I don't think that is the case with any of the Atwoods.

For those who don't know what this is about:

Battery-like chemical reactions take place inside a hot water heater with a metal tank.  Under certain circumstances, those reactions can eat away at the metal lining of the tank.  In order to prevent this, a replaceable sacrificial anode is included inside the tank.  It is made of a metal that ensures the reaction occurs in a safe direction (in other words, metal comes off the sacrificial anode and onto the inside of the tank).  The anode is eaten away ("sacrificed") instead of the tank liner.  This means the anode must be replaced from time to time.  It is mounted on a plug on the hot water heater.  They are normally about 5-6" long, but the first time I replaced mine it was 3/4" long because it should have been replaced years earlier. :yikes:

Under normal use, the sacrifical anode should last a couple years, but it should be checked every year.  Consider the cost of a $6-10 anode vs. a hot water heater.

Austin

[ccarr113]

I guess I should have been more clear on the fact that this is a new, out of the box installed water heater.  Our camper is previously owned but didn't have hot water.  we added one in december.  I have the owners manual but it doesn't say anything about an anode rod.  should I assume it doesn't have one?

[mlslocks]

I believe Atwoods have aluminum tanks and do not use an anode.

Lee

[ccarr113]

I believe Atwoods have aluminum tanks and do not use an anode.

Lee

Oh, ok.  Yes it does look like it is aluminum.

[wynot]

If I remember correctly, Suburbans have anodes and the Atwoods don't.

[AustinBoston]

If I remember correctly, Suburbans have anodes and the Atwoods don't.

That's funny, I've never gotten anything backwards before...

nitsuA

[wynot]

That's funny, I've never gotten anything backwards before...
 
nitsuA

Even funnier...I didn't even see where you had it backwards...