Check the water heater’s anode rod
The rod corrodes instead of the tank; once it is gone, the tank rusts through.
Who: You can do it yourself, or have a plumber do it. Tank models only; a tankless heater has no anode.
How often: Tank models: at 6 months, then yearly; sooner with softened water. For: the water heater.
Which do you have?
- If yours is a Bradford White power-vent model. The anode is combined with the hot-outlet nipple: a plumber’s job.
Safety first
- Power off, water cool, and the tank depressurized before you start.
- Electric: the tank must be full before the power goes back on.
What you need
- A garden hose.
- A socket wrench with an extension, in the size your manual gives.
- A keyhole saw.
- Teflon tape or pipe compound.
- The replacement rod your manual names for your model.
The part, and finding the right one
- Anode rod (water heater). Wears away so the tank doesn’t; checked yearly and replaced when it’s thin or coated. A consumable, not covered by the warranty. The owner’s manual or the maker names the rod for your model; the manual gives owner steps, or a plumber if you’d rather.
On a home’s record, each piece of equipment’s page links its manual and a search for its parts by brand and model. All filters and parts
How to do it
- Do it when you flush. Power off; run hot water until it’s cool; cold supply off; open a hot tap to take the pressure off.
- Remove the plastic cover marked “Anode Rod”, cut the foam away with the keyhole saw, and remove the rod with the socket and extension.
- Replace it if it’s substantially worn, depleted, or mostly coated with calcium.
- Put Teflon tape or pipe compound on the threads and reinstall it tight; the foam needn’t go back.
- Cold supply on; when the hot tap runs full, close it. Check for leaks, then turn the power on.
If the hot water smells like rotten eggs
A zinc, aluminum or powered anode may fix it; have a qualified person fit it.
If you have a water softener
The rod wears faster; check it sooner.
Needs attention
- Rust-tinted or cloudy water.
Call a plumber if
- You’d rather not do it yourself.
- The hot water has an odor.
Keep
- The manual’s maintenance log.
- The rod is a consumable, not covered by the warranty, and the warranty is void with no rod installed.
Keep track of it
Add your home to My homes: each piece of equipment gets this on its own schedule, with “Mark done” and reminders you can turn on.
Sources
Where the makers differ:
- State and A. O. Smith print owner steps; Bradford White and Rheem say a plumber.
- State and A. O. Smith: if you’d rather not do it, “have a qualified person replace it”.
Your owner’s manual comes first: where it says something different for your model, follow it.
Still stuck?
Email us at hello@tradewrench.com. Tell us which page you were on and what you were trying to do.