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dcmac214's avatar
dcmac214
Explorer
Aug 23, 2014

? Anode "Nut" Question -- Anti-Freeze 'Stuff"?

Seeing the post about the rusted-tight anode got me to re-thinking a question I've been wanting to ask and keep forgetting (see what you young whippersnappers have to look forward to?!).

Is there anything that can be done to ensure the anode doesn't stick tight in the water heater? My solution so far has been 6pt socket and 24" cheater on the ratchet, but it gets a little bit harder every year (and I get a little older every year...). Is there any kind of non-toxic, non-water-soluble anti-freeze stuff? I've asked local dealer and the dealer where we bought our 5er and neither had an answer better than teflon tape.

15 Replies

  • Use teflon paste instead of tape. Never put the red antifreeze in a water heater with an anode, it turns the anode to mush and you never get it all out.

    Brian
  • bigwheelsturning wrote:
    i wish i knew what an "anode"..is?

    anode |?an?d|
    noun
    the positively charged electrode by which the electrons leave a device. The opposite of cathode.
    • the negatively charged electrode of a device supplying current such as a primary cell.
    DERIVATIVES
    anodal |an??dl, ??n?dl| adjective.
    anodic |an?ädik| adjective
    ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from Greek anodos ‘way up,’ from ana ‘up’ + hodos ‘way.’

    The water heater has a zinc rod that becomes the sacrificial anode that corrodes so the tank won't.
  • get a 3/4 npt tap and clean the threads in the heater then rap 5 turns of tape around the anode threads and install
  • Just use a bit more teflon tape - about thee turns keeps mine from ever rusting up.

    Cheers,
    Scott