If you have a hot water system and you have not checked the anode in DO IT. If it used a lot do it. If you change it yourself make sure you flush out the hole it goes into. I hope this helps as it could save you a lot of dollars Agro
Good reminder ... should be done every 6 months ideally, particularly if you are travelling in 'outback' water - although some towns have water that will quickly erode the anode (gee that rhymes )
It should definitely be done every 12 months.
I have a n excellent 'how to DIY' anode replacement for the Suburban HWS. PM me and I should be able to email it if you want.
Cheers
John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Attached is photo of a new anode - and an eroded anode. The anode is designed to 'attract' the 'thingys' that corrode the HWS and it sacrifices itself rather than the HWS being effected. Hence the need to change it before it completely "dies".
Cheers
John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Interesting that they always corrode at the neck closest the thread.
I have a pile of old ones perfect except for that bit.
I have tried putting a smear of tap washer grease on that spot but that doesn't work.
When changing mine I leave a bit of water in the bottom & use a sump pump to suck out all the bits of corrosion that have fallen to the bottom of the tank. Prevents it from going thru the reticulation & lodging in water filters & aerators etc.
ps. Forgot to mention that like campfires, stainless steel tanks don't have sacrificial anodes either.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 1st of September 2011 07:44:02 PM
The hws that came in the van didn't have an anode, we had no idea they even existed until we got a leak in the cupboard where the hws system is. Took it off to a van man in Albany who insisted it wasn't the hws but a leak coming in from the outside, 3 visits to him later the cupboard was still getting wet in the bottom, we put up with it for a couple of months until we got to a place in Gosford, he took one look and confirmed, yep, the hws tank had corrosion holes. He replaced it with a whole new tank and told us the new one had an anode, unlike the old one, it was the first we even knew about it.
Good reminder to check, we've just added it to our list of things to do while we are in Cairns.
The BOSS went to change the anode on our new / used motorhome and the outer nut unscrewed off the anode itself leaving the anode still in the water heater and cant get the anode itself out. HEEEEEELP! Please