Anode Rod
All the water heater talk had me out inspecting mine today. I've never changed out an anode before. Is this typical of a worn rod? A good deal of white sediment came shooting out when I drained it. ...
Forum Discussion
"Atwood uses an aluminum tank. Aluminum doesn't corrode, so in theory there's no reason to use an anode. But they use a steel threaded insert for the drain, which is in turn welded to the aluminum tank. Guess where my last two elderly (>10 years old) Atwood heaters developed a leak? I don't know if an anode would have protected the weld or not."
Well, this is another case of "I read it on the internet so it must be true" myths.
Aluminum most certainly does corrode, just ask any aluminum boat owner. And, the threaded insert for the drain is not steel. I just tried to stick a magnet to the drain on mine, and it doesn't stick.
The reason Atwood says you don't need an anode on their tanks is because the aluminum TANK ITSELF IS THE ANODE. They even say this in their water heater literature, and warn that the tank MAY develop pin holes over time, depending on the type of water you have.
Oh, and BTW..........guess what those aluminum boat owners use to prevent their expensive boats from corroding? Magnesium anodes!
:):)
Well, this is another case of "I read it on the internet so it must be true" myths.
Aluminum most certainly does corrode, just ask any aluminum boat owner. And, the threaded insert for the drain is not steel. I just tried to stick a magnet to the drain on mine, and it doesn't stick.
The reason Atwood says you don't need an anode on their tanks is because the aluminum TANK ITSELF IS THE ANODE. They even say this in their water heater literature, and warn that the tank MAY develop pin holes over time, depending on the type of water you have.
Oh, and BTW..........guess what those aluminum boat owners use to prevent their expensive boats from corroding? Magnesium anodes!
:):)
