It is often stated on RV forums that you should not use teflon tape on the anode rod threads as it could interfere with the electrical contact. Being fairly knowledgeable in electric (retired EE) and limited knowledge of electrolysis, something just did not sound right. And my little engineering brain can't live like that. And finding nothing definitive by googling, I went directly to the source. I e-mailed Suburban with my question, "Does the anode rod threads have to make electrical contact with the water heater threads for the anode rod electrolysis to work properly?"I got a quick reply from an assistant service manager at Suburban as follows;"The answer is No. The metal threads do not need to make contact with each other. Electrolysis is the chemical reaction that takes place inside the tank and has nothing to do with the threads. I've attached some Suburban water heater videos to this email that I believe you'll find very interesting."And here is the video they attached, actually using the tape. So those who use teflon tape can rest easy.Suburban water heater video

Teflon tape is a wonderful convenient thread lubricant. The problem is 98% of people have no idea how to properly use it. They think more wraps is better, whe just the opposite is true.

They must be under the impression that the tape prevents leaks.

wildtoad wrote:They must be under the impression that the tape prevents leaks.And a correct impression that would be."Plumber's tape, often called Teflon tape, helps you get a watertight seal on threaded pipe joints." But it's not an insulating tape, there will still be metal to metal contact in places.

The success of any plumbing project hinges largely on the quality of its joints. Threaded connections between metal or plastic parts can be particularly problematic if not sealed properly. Teflon tape and pipe dope are used to fill voids between male and female threads to make joints leakproof and to prevent metal parts from rusting together. People often use pipe dope on top of Teflon tape, but some manufacturers say there is no benefit to that usage and that Teflon tape and pipe dope perform the same whether they’re used individually or together.

Teflon tape actually seals the threads from leaking by being crashed within the threads and being squeezed into the gaps and imperfections in the thread to thread contact between the tank threads and the plug threads. This keeps the water from working it's way through the thread spirals and leaking from the threads.Teflon tape does not stop contact between the threads since it is crushed and squeezed into the imperfections. Otherwise if Teflon tape was so great at breaking the "electrical contact" between the tank threads and plug threads the tape would still be intact when removing the plug and not crushed into spiral shaped remnants requiring removal before applying new tape.

Water heater, anode rod, electrolysis, and teflon tape

wgriswold
Explorer
Jan 15, 2019
I have checked the electrical conductivity between the sacrificial anode and the metal of the water heater and Teflon tape does not prevent it.

I believe that, in order to protect the metal of the water heater, there must be contact between the anode and the metal of the water heater.
mobeewan
Explorer
Jan 15, 2019
Teflon tape actually seals the threads from leaking by being crashed within the threads and being squeezed into the gaps and imperfections in the thread to thread contact between the tank threads and the plug threads. This keeps the water from working it's way through the thread spirals and leaking from the threads.

Teflon tape does not stop contact between the threads since it is crushed and squeezed into the imperfections. Otherwise if Teflon tape was so great at breaking the "electrical contact" between the tank
threads and plug threads the tape would still be intact when removing the plug and not crushed into spiral shaped remnants requiring removal before applying new tape.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jan 15, 2019
The success of any plumbing project hinges largely on the quality of its joints. Threaded connections between metal or plastic parts can be particularly problematic if not sealed properly. Teflon tape and pipe dope are used to fill voids between male and female threads to make joints leakproof and to prevent metal parts from rusting together. People often use pipe dope on top of Teflon tape, but some manufacturers say there is no benefit to that usage and that Teflon tape and pipe dope perform the same whether they’re used individually or together.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jan 15, 2019
wildtoad wrote:
They must be under the impression that the tape prevents leaks.
And a correct impression that would be.

"Plumber's tape, often called Teflon tape, helps you get a watertight seal on threaded pipe joints." But it's not an insulating tape, there will still be metal to metal contact in places.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2019
They must be under the impression that the tape prevents leaks.
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2019
Teflon tape is a wonderful convenient thread lubricant. The problem is 98% of people have no idea how to properly use it. They think more wraps is better, whe just the opposite is true.

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Water heater, anode rod, electrolysis, and teflon tape

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