If everything was perfect, the plumbing and appliance fixtures within your house would work for the rest of the time. Wouldn't that be wonderful? We are aware that this isn't the case. The most we can do is to squeeze the maximum lifespan from each product before it has to be replaced.



Why the Anode Rod is Important to Your Water Heater

Let's look at water heaters. The typical service life of a tank-type water heater is between 8 and 12 years. The main factor in determining the possibility of extending the life of your tank to the upper end of its range is the extent to which you carry out regular maintenance on your unit. In the case of the majority of kinds of heaters, a crucial maintenance task is to replace the anode rod inside the tank. If you aren't sure about the purpose of this component and how to replace it? We'll help you understand.

What exactly is an anode rod? And what is it used for?

Inside a heater may be quite a harsh place. The water is churning and being heated constantly to 120° F. However, you have a range of minerals inside the drinking water. If you're a victim of what's known as "hard water," that implies that there are higher levels of certain minerals like magnesium and calcium. These minerals are not harmful to our health; however, they are able to eat away at the interior and outside of tanks, particularly at the bottom, where they tend to accumulate.

This is the point where the anode rod steps into. It is a simple concept; the part gives up its own body to the corrosive effects of the minerals. This shields the inner liner of the tank for water heaters. Because anode rods endure such a heavy beating, they are considered to be temporary components that are made to last prior to the other components of the unit. When that happens, the anode rod has to be replaced, or the minerals will shift their corresponsive nature to the remainder of the unit.

Replacing the rod that is anode

The frequency at which you need to change your rod is contingent on a variety of factors, including whether you live in soft or hard water. The average is approximately 3 times per year. If you haven't completed the math, it means that you'll be through 3-4 anode rods over the lifespan of the water heater.

If you don't have any extensive plumbing knowledge, changing the rod yourself can be a challenge and possibly hazardous. The anode rod is placed in various locations by different manufacturers and is sometimes difficult to access. Additionally, there are a variety of types of anode rods' base materials which include aluminum, magnesium, and zinc, that are made to offer the highest level of protection based on the water composition. To protect yourself, we suggest having your anode rod checked and replaced by an experienced plumber.