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Old 06-24-2015, 04:25 PM   #1
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Draining water heater

My Atwood in an earlier rig used a petcock incorporated into the anode; could not find such an animal for the Suburban in the Escape (different size hole) but I found a bushing to increase the diameter to the Suburban hole left plenty of room for the drain function to work. Also adds enough length to make it easy to thread the thing back into the tank. No more pulling the anode between trips!
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Old 06-24-2015, 04:36 PM   #2
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Where is the sacrificial metal?
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Old 06-24-2015, 04:46 PM   #3
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So that's an Atwood anode with a bushing to fit the Suburban? if so please post the Atwood pt#. Found this one on Amazon, says it's for aluminum water heater.

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Old 06-24-2015, 06:17 PM   #4
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You might want to double-check this. The Atwood tank is aluminum, Suburban is steel.There are some YouTube videos out there specifically recommending NOT to use this type anode in a Suburban water heater.
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:27 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by santacruzer View Post
You might want to double-check this. The Atwood tank is aluminum, Suburban is steel.There are some YouTube videos out there specifically recommending NOT to use this type anode in a Suburban water heater.
The big difference is that the aluminum tank doesnt corrode like the steel one. In fact, I dont really see the purpose of a sacrificial anode in an aluminum tank. The Atwood anodes are usually magnesium and the Suburbans are usually an aluminum/magnesium alloy. Since magnesium has a lower nobility than steel, and the Atwood anode contains magnesium, it should do fine at "sacrificing" itself before the steel tank corrodes.
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:06 PM   #6
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It's magnesium.

Camco 11533 Anode Rod with Drain for Aluminum Water Heater. Chemical engineer wifey endorsed it. I just do installations......
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:14 PM   #7
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Now that's a mod I can use; thanks Mrs. Charlie!
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:28 PM   #8
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I think you are messing with mother nature, besides I do not pull the rod between trips, just once a year when winterizing.
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:54 PM   #9
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We have not one but two Atwood anodes by mistake and thought they did not fit the threading besides being the wrong one.
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Old 06-24-2015, 10:05 PM   #10
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I think you are messing with mother nature, besides I do not pull the rod between trips, just once a year when winterizing.

You must have very good water! I pulled the anode on ours to flush out the tank before storing the trailer, and it had only been in use for 40 days. It was almost a third gone.
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Old 06-24-2015, 10:07 PM   #11
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We have not one but two Atwood anodes by mistake and thought they did not fit the threading besides being the wrong one.

Which is why Charlie mentioned he used a bushing to make the threads match.
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Old 06-24-2015, 10:19 PM   #12
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Just saying we have two and may not want to bother with them and will give them away, and get the right one. They don't cost much. Actually I am waiting to be in on one of Leon's swaps!

We did not need a new anode for our 19' even when it was four years old and we only drained the tank for winterizing.

I am getting a spare element, however. That is what I hope we will not need but is the more likely one to have to be replaced --- so we have heard many times. We were lucky!
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Old 06-24-2015, 11:06 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
We have not one but two Atwood anodes by mistake and thought they did not fit the threading besides being the wrong one.
I think the brass bushing was $6. Then you could use the Atwood ones.
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:52 AM   #14
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My trailer is 7 years old and has original anode, but we have soft water here.
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