[tophcfa]

I have a question for homeowner "Do It Yourselfers". Has anyone replace the anode rod in an electric hot water heater in the Villages. For those who don't know what an anode rod is, it is a replaceable sacrificial part in hot water heaters which is typically made out of magnesium. There is stuff in water that attacks the heating coils and pre-maturely rusts out and can coat the coils with mineral deposits, shortening their useful lives. The anode rode attracts the nasty stuff that ruins the heating coils and protects them from corrosion. Once the anode rode has been attacked, and its useful life is gone, the heating coils are next if the rod is not replaced in time.

I have replaced the anode rode 4 times in our indirect Buderus hot water heater up north, where we have well water with lots of minerals that would otherwise trash the heating coils. I have never replace the anode rod in our direct eclectic hot water heater in the Villages. Since the electric heater is relatively cheap, I am less concerned about protecting it, but would still like to know what others are doing. Also, I am not sure if the municipal water provided by the Villages is as corrosive as our well water up north. I would appreciate any feedback from those that have replaced their anode rods. How long between replacement and how much life was left in the replaced rod? Trying to figure out if this is another thing I need to add to my "to do list"?