Anode Rod for Atwood

Read the manual???? READ tHE MANUAL????? Ya gotta be kiddin'. Manuals are for sissy's. :)
Just attack the problem with gusto and when it breaks listen to your wife as shes standing there reading the riot act to you from the manual.

joraz wrote:
Someone suggested to me that I add an anode to this tank

joraz wrote:
Guess I should have read the manual! I'll forgo the anode. Thanks to all.
jor

Might want to tell 'someone' that they aren't needed.....pass the info forward cause 'someone' is mistaken.

Course I'm not surprised.....
Goggle 'Atwood Anode Rod Replacement' and thousands of hits with hundreds of vendors from E-Bay, Amazon, CW etc. hocking anode rods for Atwood Water Heaters.......not to be confused with Suburbans which do use anode rods. The aftermarket (aftermarket only) Atwood rods are 1/2" diameter to fit in Atwood drain holes (Suburban are 3/4"...for a reason)

Just because an item/product is available in the aftermarket doesn't mean it is better, needed or necessary. Always check MFG. before wasting your RV Monies.

Just attack the problem with gusto

Or go on the internet and all kinds of experts will tell you what to do......Like putting an anode in an Attwood!

PenMan wrote:

Ozlander wrote:

TucsonJim wrote:
Suburban water heaters require an anode rod due to their construction (steel tank). Atwood water heaters are aluminum and do not require an anode rod. They typically have a plastic drain plug that can break when the plastic gets old and brittle. I'd suggest you pick up a spare drain plug the next time you're in an RV parts store and carry it as a spare.

What TJ said. That's all you need.

What TJ and Ozlander said. You do not need an anode in a new Atwood. I remember reading that the old (many years old) Atwoods used a steel tank and needed an anode but that was many, many years ago.

Atwoods have used Aluminum for at least 35 years. HOW old were you thinking:B Doug

I thought all water heaters had one. Very easy to replace and you can buy one at a Home depot or Lowes.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Just because an item/product is available in the aftermarket doesn't mean it is better, needed or necessary. Always check MFG. before wasting your RV Monies.

sort of reminds me of threads where it is stated,
"well they sell a base plate for it so it must be towable 4 down".:)
bumpy

Well, our 18 year old Atwood does not have an anode rod because it is not needed.

So, not to be left out without such a rod, I installed a Hott Rod.

Now my gas only Atwood is also electric powered.

deandec wrote:
Well, our 18 year old Atwood does not have an anode rod because it is not needed.

So, not to be left out without such a rod, I installed a Hott Rod.

Now my gas only Atwood is also electric powered.

An anode rod and the Hott Rod are two completely different items for two completely uses....

The Anode Rod is a sacrificial rod made of aluminum or magnesium that reacts with minerals in water and slowly deteriorates due to galvanic action....saves the tank wall

The Hott Rod is an aftermarket electric heating element to heat water via AC power

Neither item is recommended by Atwood....
Anode Rod..because it is not needed
Hott Rod (or Lightning Rod)....because once installed in drain hole folks have a tendency to not drain & flush water heater routinely

Just make sure to Teflon tape or pipe dope the threads of the rod. Otherwise it will galvanically weld into place.

Thanks for the clarification Old Biscuit. You certainly have a great deal of knowledge on the subject.

Guess eleven years of success with my Rodd was just a lucky coincidence from which no one else could benefit.

But I sure enjoy the electric operation convenience in addition to the LP result without having to replace my unit with Atwood's gas and electric version to achieve the same result.

Sometimes manufacturers proclaim, do not use, because they sell a more expensive competing product. Good marketing, but not necessarily in the best interest of of the consumer.