anode out?

Central TX water tends to be hard due to the limestone. This doesn't eat up the anode rod, but it coats it. I am glad I pulled mine because if I camped another six months, the amount of calcium precipitated onto it would have kept it from being removed. Ironically the rod was almost completely intact with some very slight pitting.

I just replaced the anode rod in my suburban tank today. Wow, was I surprised by it's condition. I've only had the RV for about 3 months but I don't think it was changed in a long time. The rod was almost completely gone. I also purchased a flushing wand to rinse out the tank. That was a great investment as I spent about 20 minutes flushing out all kinds of "gelatenous" white stuff. At first they looked like white rocks, but they were squishy. It took alot of washing, but it is finally clean. And the best part, the heater seemed to heat the water up much faster once it was clean.

If you haven't ever used a flush wand, try it. You would be amazed at what comes out.

The obvious answer is leave it in. That's what keeps the water in.

You would need another type of plug but it wouldn't protect the tank. How much does a new water heater cost? Far more than replacing an anode rod every few years I'm thinking.

I never leave mine out. Did you read the post a few years ago where someone left his out and bees used it for a nice nesting place?

I take my rod out when I winterize and drain the tank. I install it loosely after I have done this, just to keep the bugs etc. out. I have a spare one ready the next time I drain my tank.

It best to drain and flush water heaters routinely.

After draining reinstall drain plug so:
It doesn't get lost
Tanks threads don't get messed up
Bugs/insects don't set up house inside
And water heater is ready to be refilled/used

Anode rods are used on Suburban Brand and NOT Atwood Brand
Replace anode rod when 75% of rod has deteriorated.

Jayco23FB wrote:
I drain my tank between camping trips. Camping trips last between 3 and 6 days. Do I need an anode in me water heater?

Only if you have a Suburban water heater and want it to last.

I drain my tank between camping trips. Camping trips last between 3 and 6 days. Do I need an anode in me water heater?

Anytime it is disintegrating in the tank it is only doing the job it was designed to do by being there…

If the heater tank has no water in it, there is no value to leaving it out when not in use. The anode only is effective when there's water in the tank.