ScottG wrote:
If you drain the water heater it will have a little bit left in the bottom of the tank. Because this water does not make contact with the anode, the anode cannot protect the tank. It is better to either leave the tank full with a good anode or completely drain and blow out the tank - which isn't easy.
I would leave it full of water.
I would admit I were concerned about your advice but I just checked tonight with a flashlight (inside the drain hole) and I don't know what brand of water heater you actually got, but on my Suburban the drain plug is perfectly flush to the lowest point of the tank so when you remove the drain plug and let drain for a few minutes, there's absolutely NO TRACE of water left inside the tank.
BTW, I just ordered the factory aluminium anode from Suburban over Amazon Canada because I just realise by checking some picture on the internet than my anode is actually 100% worn and it only left the metal shaft in the middle... no more magnesium!! Damn!!
