Forum Discussion

happycamper1942's avatar
Nov 04, 2014

Sacrificial Anode

I winterized my 5th wheel today, including removing the sacrificial anode to drain the hot water tank. Then I and went to do the same thing to my camper and discovered that there is just a plastic plug in the hole, no anode. Is this normal? I would assume every heater should have an anode, but thought I would ask for some opinions before putting one in.
Thanks
  • Atwood has anode Suburban does not.

    Or vice/versa....I can never remember which. We have had both...
  • The Suburban water heater has an anode rod and the Atwood has the plastic plug. The Atwood is aluminum tank construction and the Suburban has a steel tank.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    My Suburban SW6P hot water heater has an anode rod installed in it. I think the ATWOOD model hot water heater that has an aluminum tank does not require an anode rod.

    Roy Ken
  • Different brands
    IIRC Suburban has one some others do not
  • Atwood.........uses an aluminum alloy tank and therefore does NOT have an anode rod. Drain hole is 1/2" diameter and uses a nylon drain plug.
    Aftermarket sells a 1/2" anode rod for use in Atwood.....but mfg. does NOT supply one or recommend one.

    Suburban.......uses a steel 'glass lined' tank just like millions of residential water heaters and therefore uses anode rod. Drain hole is 3/4" and anode rod is 9"-9 1/2" long. Sacrificial material is formed around a steel rod and can be Magnesium or Aluminum
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    Atwood.........uses an aluminum alloy tank and therefore does NOT have an anode rod. Drain hole is 1/2" diameter and uses a nylon drain plug.
    Aftermarket sells a 1/2" anode rod for use in Atwood.....but mfg. does NOT supply one or recommend one.

    Suburban.......uses a steel 'glass lined' tank just like millions of residential water heaters and therefore uses anode rod. Drain hole is 3/4" and anode rod is 9"-9 1/2" long. Sacrificial material is formed around a steel rod and can be Magnesium or Aluminum
    Several years reading post on water heaters, and my research agree with this. My TC uses an Atwood water, which does not use an anode.

    It is my understanding residential water heater all use the anode rod. I might stand corrected on this.

    Wayne