Hot water drain plug question.

[_40Fan]

What the heck is this? For a split second I thought I was pulling the anode rod when trying to drain the hot water heater.

Crappy cell phone pics....sorry.





Maybe instead of what, I should say, why?

[Old-Biscuit]

3/4" drain hole....Suburban. Anode rods are 9 1/2" long
1/2" drain hole....Atwood. Aftermarket rods are 4 1/2" long (and NOT needed!)

From your picture........looks like a 3/4" plug with 9 1/2" anode so Suburban

[_40Fan]

I haven't been back to the TT since I drained the tank to confirm the manufacturer, Enblethen.

[Mark_and_Linda]

Last year just after I bought our used Puma, I pulled out the anode rod. I looked at it and thought, boy, this thing needs to be replaced. It was like 50 percent gone....after learning a little more about how things work. I will leave the other one in a little longer. I did pull it the other day to drain my tank to clean it out some. I have a new one ready, whenever.

[enblethen]

OP:
Did you find which make your water heater is?

[camperforlife]

#40Fan wrote:
Ah...F me. I was thinking (an anode rod) had an electical connector to it like an electical hot water heater.

Now that I google what one actually is, I was totally confused to begin with.

Edit in red.

Isn't this site great!

[RoyB]

Found this handy chart on google... I check mine at least once a year here...


Roy Ken

[Helimech]

I think it's unanimous, Anode rod.

[Old-Biscuit]

#40Fan wrote:
Ah...F me. I was thinking (an anode rod) had an electical connector to it like an electical hot water heater.

Now that I google what one actually is, I was totally confused to begin with.

Edit in red.

That would be a 'Hott Rod' or 'Lightning Rod'
An aftermarket electrical heating rod that goes in thru the drain plug hole for propane only water heaters.

Course you loose the corrosion protection provided by the anode rod.
One of the aftermarket heating rods does have a small (very small) anode rod attachment.

Your anode rod appears to be an aluminum type(the small calcium spots).
Just lightly brush it down with a wire brush to remove the slight build up and reinstall.
No need to replace until the sacrificial material has deteriorated by 75%. The rod will continued to do what it was designed to do....protect the WH tank (Suburban Model----3/4" drain)

[_40Fan]

Ah...F me. I was thinking (an anode rod) had an electical connector to it like an electical hot water heater.

Now that I google what one actually is, I was totally confused to begin with.

Edit in red.

[You_can_t_take_]

Yup... that thar's an anode rod! Took mine out last Saturday and it's identical!

[enblethen]

It looks like the "anode" has a small thread. That could be an anode for an Atwood tank that Atwood does not recommend.

[skipnchar]

Put that anode rode back in, it shows almost no wear. When it's half that size change it.
Good luck / Skip

[Artum_Snowbird]

A year or two left on that one!

[robsouth]

Put it back in. It's still good for a while yet.