Draining water heater, put anode back in or not?

[path1]

Got home last week after a 4 month trip in wives trailer. First time we've ever owned a Suburban water heater with the anode. We won't be using it again till mid June for a 2 month trip.

How is the best way to leave water heater?

Drain and flush and reinstall new anode?

Drain and flush and leave anode off until we use again?

Does anybody make a anode with a petcock?



Would be nice to hook tube up to it versus pulling anode out and getting 10 gallon at once.


Anode was only about 6 months old, maybe 35% of it gone, but it sure looked ugly.

[midnightsadie]

SCH 911 yep I know, but it sits dry alot, OH and its 9yrs old and still working.

[Old-Biscuit]

Anode rod deteriorates vs steel tank. In doing so 'stuff' can accumulate...that is what flushing tank helps remove, so remove rod/drain tank/flush then reinstall anode rod to keep bugs/insects out and protect threads.

It is a 3/4" drain hole........for a reason. So that good draining/flushing can be done and so that a large anode rod can be inserted.

Suburban recommends anode rod replacement when 75% of material has deteriorated.

[sch911]

midnightsadie wrote:
I pulled the rod installed a valve with a rubber hose so I can drain it easy and not down the side of the rv, I drain my fresh tank to, who wants to use that old stale water.

You do realize what the Anode Rod is for right?

Leaving it out causes the tank itself to begin to corrode, the rod is designed to be the sacrificial part of the galvanic reaction that occurs...

[Dick_B]

Try backing out the anode rod until the joint starts to drip. It may take a week but most of the water should drain out. It's a delicate operation because if you back it out too far...

[wa8yxm]

That half inch opening is very inviting to some of the world's Fauna

I would replace the plug.. Since the anode is attached..that too.

[midnightsadie]

I pulled the rod installed a valve with a rubber hose so I can drain it easy and not down the side of the rv, I drain my fresh tank to, who wants to use that old stale water.

[DutchmenSport]

You want to replace the anode rod after you drain the water. As far as the actual functioning of everything, it won't make any difference. But here's why you should put the rod back in place.

1) to keep small bugs out of the water heater. You'd be amazed at what will attempt to crawl inside that holde.

2) to keep the threads of the water heater and the threads of the anode rod from rusting up and making it almost impossible to put the rod back in place later. It only takes a day and the bare metal threads will begin to rust. Even the threads of the water heater hole will rust, making it almost impossible to re-insert the rod properly. Keeping it in place will prevent the rust and also make it easily removable the next time.

In my opinion, the best way to leave the water heater is "empty" when not in use. Draining it after ever use accomplishes a few things.

1) it drains the particles out from the eroding anode rod. All those little white flakes of stuff will spew out the hole, keeping all that from building up in the tank. Then you take off and road motion stirrs all that up and then you turn on your faucet and all those white particles will clog at the sink faucet air-screen at the end of the faucet.

2) if draining, you always replace with fresh water. It's amazing how conscious folks are on these forums about keeping their lines sanitized and all that, but then will let water sit in the water heater for a long time without draining. Drain it, it will be fresh water next time you fill it up.

3) along this same thought here, if you drain it, there's no water in the tank to grow bacteria.

A petcock?

No! You do not want to do this. Modifying the anode rod will defeat the purpose of the rod. The rod is there to protect the water heater. It's designed to be threaded and in contact with the body of the tank. It's designed to deteriorate as a sacrificial element to protect the tank. Modifying it in any way will only cause damage (in time) to your tank.

New Rod?

You do not need to replace the rod until it is completely deteriorated. If you drain your water after each use, you will find your anode rod will last much longer than if keeping water in the tank. I owned my Springdale for 8 years. I think I replaced the anode rod once, because I drained after every trip and never stored the camper (even a week) with water in it.

I've had my Outback for 21 months now, and I pull the rod and drain after every trip (still), even if going out every week-end and parked at home for 5 days. I've noticed there is very little wear on the rod so far, after 21 months of use doing it this way.

For all these reasons, drain the tank and put the rod back in until the next camp out.

FYI, I drain my fresh water tank completely also after EVERY trip.

[aslakson]

Anodes with petcocks are available at Camping World. What you don't get with that smaller opening is the flushing of the crud that accumulates in the bottom of the tank, so you'll need to back-flush the heater. Personally, I don't use the petcock version for that reason.

You replace the anode when it's been consumed, or when yiu feel it's time. Personally, I replace the anode when I flush - and I flush it about once a year, or when the hot water starts to smell or taste funny, whether or not it's been consumed.

I'd put the anode in after the flush - it's one less thing to have to mess with before you head out the next time.

al