Atwood water heater anode

Thanks guys, I had heard most of this before and when I mentioned this problem to them, they hadn't personally experienced this welding problem yet. I'm returning the Camco Atwood anode rod to them, as y'all's experience trumps theirs! Thanks.

Attwood water heater,no anode rod. Full timer for ten years with this unit, all kinds of water - no problems.

X2 I had this problem and I learned the hard way. Anode rod was installed by dealer and it seized in the drain outlet to the point that it distorted the output enough that it started leaking. Atwood said "I told you so".
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73 nm1oqrz

wa8yxm wrote:
The owner's manual for all but one model of Attwood (Which strangely does use an Anode, but they don't make that one any more) is very clear.

Install an anode, Void warranty.

Both brands of Water heaters (Suburban and Atwood) require you to flush the tank yearly. IF you do that, then then Atwood will not corrode from the inside. It really depends on the mineral content of your water. Yes, Atwood Aluminum tanks can corrode from the inside, but an Anode rod will NOT stop that type corrosion. It takes years to corrode internally and if you flush once or twice a year it will never happen. The ONLY time I have seen massive corrosion on a Atwood tank was 30 years ago and it happened in less than 8 months on a brand new unit. The customer went to the RG valley in Texas and lived for 6 months. In that 6 months the mineral content of his water corroded out the inner tank and he had scores of pin holes. Atwood did warranty the new inner tank. As to that dealer and his tech helper. I have 34 years as a tech and except for the failure I listed above have never seen another failure on a tank less than 10 to 15 years old. I would never advise a customer to use an Anode rod on a Atwood aluminum tank. I HAVE seen gauled aftermarket non plastic plugs and such that you cannot remove because the the different metals welded to themselves. Aluminum thread does not play well with other metals. Doug

The owner's manual for all but one model of Attwood (Which strangely does use an Anode, but they don't make that one any more) is very clear.

Install an anode, Void warranty.

A lot depends on your water. In the area where we live, in our stick built home, a water heater with an anode rod in a couple of years the hot water will smell like rotten eggs. Over 30 years ago I put in a new A.O. Smith water heater, and removed the anode rod. That water heater is still doing fine, we do have a water softener. That water heater is a glass lined steel tank.

Still Searchin' wrote:
Just came back from an RV maintenance seminar put on by a very knowledgable RV dealer and his tech helper. Both claim that the aluminum Atwood water heaters do in fact corrode, and both thought the magnesium 4.5 inch anode rode made for Atwoods would help with that issue.

Then I hear folks on this forum that have had seizing problems putting anodes in Atwoods. Were those anodes magnesium, or is it the steel threads that cause the problem?? I do see the Camco package recomends inspecting the anode rod monthly, which I wouldn't do (I drain the water tank after camping trips, which for us can be months down the road).
Appreciate all thoughts on this issue. thanks.

Just a question. Were they selling these anode rods? Maybe their recommendation was better for them than for you.

I asked Atwood. They said do not use an anode rod. Clear enough for me.

Here is the deal......
Suburban use anode rods because they are porcelain lined steel tank and will rapidly deteriorate with out the use of a sacrificial rod.

Atwood are aluminum alloy tanks and do not require an anode rod.
BUT over time even aluminum will erode....many, many years before it is a problem.

Aftermarket anode rods are available that fit in Atwood drains. Whether the anode rod is aluminum, magnesium or zinc the thread head & support rod are made of steel.
Screwing a steel threaded rod into an aluminum threaded tank can cause galvanic corrosion.......dissimilar metals....an anode & cathode.

Just because it's made and sold doesn't mean it's worthwhile or needed.
Your choice.

Atwood water heaters (aluminum) DO NOT use an anode rod,just a plastic / nylon plug.
The anode rods are for Suburban water heaters with steel tanks.
Siggy