Anode Rod Issue and a Couple of Questions

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I found a neat adapter kit with a zinc anode, it has a built in discharge, similar to your auto radiator petcock. https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-NW-LE...41088702&psc=1
Anyone have any experience with one of these?

I've put one in each of my trailers and let the heater drain on the way home. Without the tank full of water, the rod lasts forever.....

[Serendipity]

Hello folks...

Hope everyone's summer was a camping treat! A couple of questions on water heater anode rod (we have a Escape 19):

1) Type, size, brand to buy? magnesium or aluminum?
2) We bought our RV last year. Never took anode rode out since then... any problems with that?
3) Should the anode rod be taken out for the winter months?
4) How often do they need to be replaced?

Thank you!

Serendipity

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Serendipity

Hello folks...

Hope everyone's summer was a camping treat! A couple of questions on water heater anode rod (we have a Escape 19):

1) Type, size, brand to buy? magnesium or aluminum?
2) We bought our RV last year. Never took anode rode out since then... any problems with that?
3) Should the anode rod be taken out for the winter months?
4) How often do they need to be replaced?

Thank you!

Serendipity

I'll try to answer, mag or aluminum - check your booklet to see what suburban says
take rod out(first release pressure) drain and clean/hose out insides, inspect rod, if more than 75% replace. Replacement time depends on water being used, varies.

[stephen99]

Originally Posted by Serendipity

Hello folks...

Hope everyone's summer was a camping treat! A couple of questions on water heater anode rod (we have a Escape 19):

1) Type, size, brand to buy? magnesium or aluminum?
2) We bought our RV last year. Never took anode rode out since then... any problems with that?
3) Should the anode rod be taken out for the winter months?
4) How often do they need to be replaced?

Thank you!

Serendipity

I always drain and flush the water heater once a year and replace the anode at the same time. They are cheap enough so might as well just do it while you have things apart. Magnesium is said to work better so that's what I buy. Here's a link to the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/Suburban-2327...8374122&sr=8-4

If you are storing the trailer over the winter you should drain the water heater and that is done by removing the anode.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Serendipity

Hello folks...
Hope everyone's summer was a camping treat! A couple of questions on water heater anode rod (we have a Escape 19):

1) Type, size, brand to buy? magnesium or aluminum?
2) We bought our RV last year. Never took anode rode out since then... any problems with that?
3) Should the anode rod be taken out for the winter months?
4) How often do they need to be replaced?

Thank you!

Serendipity

Hi Maria. I hope all is well.
Watch this video that I had included in post #19. It will answer many of your questions. The right one to buy is the magnesium one that stephen99 linked to above. You would only go to aluminum under rare circumstances (covered in the video).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=33s&...T8&app=desktop

If you haven't removed the anode does that mean that you never had water in the hot water tank (and had it bypassed)? I ask because you need to remove the anode to drain the tank. If you haven't been using the tank the anode should still be like new. For the winter with the water heater in bypass you would typically blow the piping system out with compressed air or pump in RV antifreeze. With the tank empty and bypassed some leave the anode out for the winter, but because of the rusting that can occur on the threads of both the tank and anode I would recommend reinstalling it as shown in the video with some mineral oil and teflon tape. With no water in the tank the anode will not be degraded. One thing you definitely don't want to do is put antifreeze in the hot water tank. It is a waste of antifreeze, attacks the anode and requires you to do more flushing in the spring. Also during the camping season it is good practice to bypass and drain the hot water tank when you aren't using the RV.

Replace the anode once ~75% of the material is gone. As was said it depends on use. It is not a bad idea to have a spare sitting around just in case. I just bought two.

[padlin]

fwiw, I've yet to need to replace an anode. 7 years on my 1st trailer and it was maybe 20% used up. With the 5 year old Escape the original is maybe 10% used up. Don't know if it matters but we only kick on the water heater when we need it. Once or twice a day, for 30 min.

[Jim Bennett]

I to have never replaced an anode including on a trailer I owned for 11 years, though we did not travel as much as we do now. After 6 years the one in my 19 was still near complete, just the surface worn a bit.

I bet as I do more distance travelling I might hit some water in areas that will cause more erosion. Still, not going to change it until it is ready to do so.

[stephen99]

What is it about the water that causes the wear? The last one I changed had been in for about a year. It was 80% gone.

[stephen99]

Typically we are staying somewhere with power available so I just turn on the electric element and the water is always hot. I suppose that would have something to do with longevity.

[Chotch]

In 2 years of camping ,from Maine to Florida our anode is less than 1/4 spent. For those replacing every year if it’s not the 75% gone, well it’s your money not mine😁
🤔And the need to carry a spare, why? If the the anode completely goes away your tank will not self destruct overnight.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by padlin

fwiw, I've yet to need to replace an anode. 7 years on my 1st trailer and it was maybe 20% used up. With the 5 year old Escape the original is maybe 10% used up. Don't know if it matters but we only kick on the water heater when we need it. Once or twice a day, for 30 min.

It really depends on the quality of your water. I lost about 20% the first year, and another 70% the second. I replaced mine (with a magnesium version) when it was down to a few lumps left on the wire. The water at Quartzsite is fairly salty; don't know if that was the cause of rapid consumption...

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Chotch

��And the need to carry a spare, why? If the the anode completely goes away your tank will not self destruct overnight.

Merely a suggestion. Before a recent trip filled up the water system and had a slow leak at the anode. Cleaning threads and teflon tape wouldn't stop it. Some corrosion on the threads seemed to be the issue and didn't want to tighten anymore than I already was. Also had no way of plugging it. Had to order a new anode which solved the problem. So the issue wasn't with the anode itself. Unique circumstance for sure, but it would have been nice to have had a spare on the shelf. If there wasn't time to order and install then water heater would have been bypassed for the trip or I suppose I could have left it leaking on the ground.

[Jim Bennett]

I have never carried a spare anode either, nor would I. If a situation came up needing one, I would pick one up first chance, and heat water on a stove for the little we use.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

The water at Quartzsite is fairly salty; don't know if that was the cause of rapid consumption...

Jon, do you mean the water from the Pit Stop?

Ron

[alanmalk]

Our initial anode lasted less than a year as a result of camping for 100 days in Rio Grande Village Campground, Big Bend NP. That water was so hard you didn't need toothpaste to brush your teeth. My, and the official Park position, was to not drink too much of this water.
--
Alan

[jeffrow]

I’ve wondered if fast anode deterioration could be due being plugged into shore power long term. My boat started blowing through zincs at the marina due to a guy next to me with rogue wiring

[GregandTeresa]

Originally Posted by jeffrow

I’ve wondered if fast anode deterioration could be due being plugged into shore power long term. My boat started blowing through zincs at the marina due to a guy next to me with rogue wiring

Our's is plugged in constantly, and 3 years later, our anode still looks almost like new.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Jon, do you mean the water from the Pit Stop?

Ron

No, from the LTVA faucets, particularly when the place gets busy & the pumping is from the bottom of the well...

[jeffrow]

Originally Posted by GregandTeresa

Our's is plugged in constantly, and 3 years later, our anode still looks almost like new.

Guess that rules out my theory. My old Casita used to consume a lot of water stored in my drive on shore power even after I installed a progressive dynamics unit. My Escape is stored using solar and seems to use very little water. Had a Trojan in the Casita, stock Interstates in the Escape.

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by jeffrow

I’ve wondered if fast anode deterioration could be due being plugged into shore power long term. My boat started blowing through zincs at the marina due to a guy next to me with rogue wiring

Can't discount your theory, but we have been plugged in at a different area of the Park and this current anode is holding up as well as can be expected. My money is on the "bad" water being more conductive to electricity (lots of ions).
--
Alan