Atwood water heater anode
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 ...
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
