Quote:
Originally Posted by jrref
Has anyone changed the anode rod in their hot water heater after 5-7 years? The reason i ask is once a year i drain my hot water heater and expansion tank and change the expansion tank if needed. I know after time the anode rod will dissentrigate and need to be replaced. The problem is in most of the Villages Designer homes there is not enough height above the water heater to remove the old rod if a lot remains or to install the new rod. I know they make segmented rods to help with this issue but i'm interested to know if this is normal maintenance that most villagers have done by a plumber? I get a slight rotten egg smell when i turn on the hot water occasionally which i was told is from the magnesium anode rod in the heater. With a traditional gas hot water heater you probably change it every 8 to 10 years so most might not bother changing the anode rod but i have an electric heater which is supposed to last longer so changing the rod is probably beneficial to helping the heater last longer.
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There are powered anodes that are made of Titanium that provide protection longer than any other option.
That said, most water heaters I've seen in TV are in the garage. Most sit in trays with drains that let water go right outside.
The biggest failure of these heaters are the elements which can be changed by anyone with an 1 1/4 socket. Plumbers show up and say "you've got an old heater" and people just replace them. "New, efficient and only $400 more than the repair of this old, stinky rusty heater".
I know corrosion is a problem with water heaters, but I suspect most get swapped out long before the bottom rusts through which is essentially all it's doing.