I winterized my camper and pulled the water heater plug last night to drain it. When I pulled it out, this rod came with it and it was covered in this white ****. I can only assume it's calcium? As the water drained out, chunks of this stuff flowed out with it.This is a new camper and my first time pulling any WH plug. Is this normal? I have city water, but this looks like havoc from well water. I dropped it off to the dealer last night for some warranty work before storage. Is this a concern I should bring up with them? I can't imagine this stuff floating around in a water heater can be good for it? How would you even clean it out?2015-11-11_07-31-37 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

It is normal. You should flush out the tank before replacing it.Now check the one in your house. Very few people do.

RoyBell wrote:This is a new camper and my first time pulling any WH plug. Is this normal?Your camper has a Suburban water heater with a porcelain lined steel tank that requires the use of a sacraficial anode rod ... yours has performed exactly as it should to protect the interior lining of the tank. You'll find a white gooey sort of mess left behind inside the tank ... best way to get rid of it is to use a tank rinser designed specifically for the purpose.

Wow, thanks for the quick reply guys. We have good water here and never needed a water softener so this surprised me. I will put that on my list of things to do in spring time. Had I known I would had flushed it prior so it would be ready to rock in spring.

I assume I am to replace the whole rod each season? Being "sacrificial"

Only 14 bucks for a new one. Not bad.

Pulled my WH plug, is this calcium? | Good Sam Community

Lynnmor
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
It is normal. You should flush out the tank before replacing it.

Now check the one in your house. Very few people do.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
RoyBell wrote:
This is a new camper and my first time pulling any WH plug. Is this normal?

Your camper has a Suburban water heater with a porcelain lined steel tank that requires the use of a sacraficial anode rod ... yours has performed exactly as it should to protect the interior lining of the tank. You'll find a white gooey sort of mess left behind inside the tank ... best way to get rid of it is to use a tank rinser designed specifically for the purpose.
RoyBell
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
Wow, thanks for the quick reply guys. We have good water here and never needed a water softener so this surprised me. I will put that on my list of things to do in spring time. Had I known I would had flushed it prior so it would be ready to rock in spring.
RoyBell
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
I assume I am to replace the whole rod each season? Being "sacrificial"
RoyBell
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
Only 14 bucks for a new one. Not bad.
Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
The accumulation on the rod is perfectly normal, and it is actually what is left, not what accumulated. A new rod is about 1/2 inch thick and perfectly smooth.
Dick_B
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
As previously mentioned the tank should be flushed out using what CW calls a Tank Saver that fits on the end of your garden hose. The rod is still good. It could be replaced for peace of mind but is not necessary. When the bare rod starts showing it's time to replace it. Reinstall with teflon tape on the threads and be careful not to cross thread when installing because the heavy end tends to droop.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
With that much collection I'm surprised you didn't have the common rotten egg odor in the water.
downtheroad
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
You have big problems here. You will have to replace your water heater very soon and if you don't you will soon be completely re-piping your rig.....

Seriously, that is a very healthy looking anode rod. It's doing it job perfectly and as has been posted already, it's normal.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
RoyBell wrote:
I assume I am to replace the whole rod each season? Being "sacrificial"

You'd get another season out of that anode rod but for the relatively minor cost involved there's no reason to not install a new one if it makes you feel better.