Water left in Suburban water heater - UPDATE!
Do you leave water in your Suburban water heater? I did and I paid. For years I have left the water in my Atwood WH (which is in our trailer) all season. I would drain the FW tank between trips, bu...
Forum Discussion
You might can replace just the tank.
My first one had an anode rod, so I assume it was a steel tank. I never had issues. It is not raw steel, but going to be treated to not rust I would imagine.
I only drained it for winter, otherwise I left it full.
I think the anode only needs to be replaced when it is too dissolved. As long as it is intact then it should work, putting a new one won't do anything different as the rod is the same material all the way through. It would be like tossing your candy bar half way through and getting a new candy bar. Its the same chocolate.
Sometimes even stainless steel or galvanized steel will rust. You just got something that had a defect likely. You will not be owed anything, so I woudn't go trying to get a free replacement.
Look for a used tank also, that is super cheap. I have one but doubt you are local.
Rust is not going to hurt you, but you dont want the particles in your water system. Pipes in municipal systems all have rust. If water flows enough then the rust will be so diluted that you never see it. Or sometimes you see it in the toilet or sink bowl as rust stains.
You can't really drain the tank 100% unless you tip is sideways, so there will always be water in the bottom of the tank, which means the tank will be a very high humidity environment, so even the parts not under water will still be rusting. Just leave it full until u winterize it.
By leaving it full the anode can perform its function.
Eventually the tank will leak just like house tanks do. Generally your situation is rare, tanks just don't rust that often. Best to get it replaced sooner than later. You will want an aluminum tank this time...
My first one had an anode rod, so I assume it was a steel tank. I never had issues. It is not raw steel, but going to be treated to not rust I would imagine.
I only drained it for winter, otherwise I left it full.
I think the anode only needs to be replaced when it is too dissolved. As long as it is intact then it should work, putting a new one won't do anything different as the rod is the same material all the way through. It would be like tossing your candy bar half way through and getting a new candy bar. Its the same chocolate.
Sometimes even stainless steel or galvanized steel will rust. You just got something that had a defect likely. You will not be owed anything, so I woudn't go trying to get a free replacement.
Look for a used tank also, that is super cheap. I have one but doubt you are local.
Rust is not going to hurt you, but you dont want the particles in your water system. Pipes in municipal systems all have rust. If water flows enough then the rust will be so diluted that you never see it. Or sometimes you see it in the toilet or sink bowl as rust stains.
You can't really drain the tank 100% unless you tip is sideways, so there will always be water in the bottom of the tank, which means the tank will be a very high humidity environment, so even the parts not under water will still be rusting. Just leave it full until u winterize it.
By leaving it full the anode can perform its function.
Eventually the tank will leak just like house tanks do. Generally your situation is rare, tanks just don't rust that often. Best to get it replaced sooner than later. You will want an aluminum tank this time...
