HWH threads corroded

Thanks again, everyone! We'll give the wire brush a try and go from there.

If the threads won't restore, you could flush it out and epoxy a new anode in there "for the duration." An alternative would be to epoxy a size reducing bushing in there. Then you could put a plug in there to remove for draining. The size might work out to where you could get some kind of flush device through the small hole.

j-d wrote:
Bud mentioned a Thread Chase Nipple. I've been able to file chip release "slots" into pipe nipples or pipe plugs and use them to clean threads. with some reach.

Another way to do that is to take a short piece of pipe and cut a slot through it, a crossed the threads, with a hack saw or a side grinder with a cut off disc.

Dusty

How deep do the threads on the rod go into the fitting when it slides out? If it slides in, slides right out the fitting on the tank is probably stripped and no cleaning is going to help.

Look closely and see if there are actual threads in the fitting or just outlines of where they were.

Bud mentioned a Thread Chase Nipple. I've been able to file chip release "slots" into pipe nipples or pipe plugs and use them to clean threads. With a Pipe Thread TAP, it's possible to go too deep and end up oversized. You could to this: Take the new anode to a plumbing department and determine the pipe thread size. Then get a nipple several inches long and cut the slots into it. Drill a hole crosswise in the other end to slide a T-Handle into. That way you can keep it straight and steady. Hard enough to get the anode threaded into a Suburban, so make a tool with some reach.

Or naval jelly. Should be able to get at Lowes or home store

Thanks for the tips. Definitely we'll try the wire brush. Someone at an RV dealer suggested using CLR - thoughts?

(Yes, it's a Suburban.)

Is it a Suburban water heater?
Small diameter wire brush on electric drill. Can use something like a 12 gauge shot gun cleaning brush.
Could use a thread chase nipple to clean threads.
If it is not Suburban but Atwood (aluminum tank) they do not use anodes. Materials could have oxidized the threads. Could use chase nipple to clean or correct size tap.

Carefully clean out the hole with a pipe cleaning wire brush enough to make the metal shine. Then use alcohol to remove residue. Perfectly clean in other words.

Smear an ever-so-light coating of grease onto the threads of the brand new anode. Be careful and take your time. The coating has to be a thin film.

Next, mix up a batch of JB WELD. Enough to coat the anode with a good glob.

Slide the anode into the damaged hole.

Revolve the anode one quarter turn but no more than that.

Let it sit overnight.

If you did an outstanding job shining up the water heater hole to perfection this works like a champ.

Try small wired brush. If that doesn't do it, do what previous poster said.
Always good to grease the threads is leaving anode rod out for any considerable length of time.
When draining or winterizing mine, I always reinstall the rod to avoid corrosion from forming. Steve