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12-14-2014, 10:18 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
Vandervoort
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 17
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SACRIFICIAL ANODE, other than the hot water heater ?
Most RVer's know about making periodical checks of the Hot Water heater's sacrificial anode. Yet, I have talked with some that have additional anode's that they have little familiarity with. Here is the link to the story with photo's and locations.
Blog | Oliver Travel Trailer
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12-14-2014, 10:55 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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As far as I know some older Airstreams only have the one hot water anode. My hot water heater is less than a year old and does not have an anode. Apparently materials and methods of construction have changed. My boat on the other hand has 7 anodes that that usually have to be replaced at least once a year.
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MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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12-14-2014, 11:04 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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I've owned several Airstream trailers, models from the early 1970's to 2000. None of mine had anodes. I helped a friend repair his water heater recently, that had the exact same Atwood water heater with a anode rod in the drain plug hole, in a Minnie-Winnie. I was wondering why his had one and mine did not?
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Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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12-14-2014, 11:14 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Airstreams use water heaters with aluminum tanks and the manufacturer says specifically that sacrificial anodes are not to be used. However, even though not needed and stated so by the manufacture, there are after market anodes available in the length which will fit in them. So, you can find them in use. Although I do not know the chemistry involved, I believe I read somewhere that an anode, used with an aluminum tank, will accelerate the corrosion of the tank.
Some other brands of water heaters use steel tanks or glass lined steel tanks and they require an anode and replacement when it is worn out. So, steel tank uses anode, aluminum tanks do not.
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12-14-2014, 11:21 AM
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#5
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A W Warn
I've owned several Airstream trailers, models from the early 1970's to 2000. None of mine had anodes. I helped a friend repair his water heater recently, that had the exact same Atwood water heater with a anode rod in the drain plug hole, in a Minnie-Winnie. I was wondering why his had one and mine did not?
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His didn't need one, either. It probably didn't come from the dealer with one.
Atwood water heaters don't need an anode because the tanks are lined with aluminum.
Zinc is very close to aluminum on the galvanic table, and so it doesn't work very well as an anode for aluminum. If you really want to install cathodic protection for an aluminum water heater tank, the anode should be made of magnesium instead. You can tell your friend with the zinc anode that next time he pulls his drain plug, he should get rid of the anode because it isn't doing him a bit of good.
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12-15-2014, 11:51 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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My previous sob trailer had an anode rod in the water heater. The Airstream does not. I can't think of any other component that would need one.
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12-15-2014, 04:29 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist
His didn't need one, either. It probably didn't come from the dealer with one.
Atwood water heaters don't need an anode because the tanks are lined with aluminum.
Zinc is very close to aluminum on the galvanic table, and so it doesn't work very well as an anode for aluminum. If you really want to install cathodic protection for an aluminum water heater tank, the anode should be made of magnesium instead. You can tell your friend with the zinc anode that next time he pulls his drain plug, he should get rid of the anode because it isn't doing him a bit of good.
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I was helping my friend flush the water heater and water lines since he was having a low flow issue. The anode rod was about 50% dissolved. Obviously the corroded rod debris was inside the tank. I was really surprised at what came out! There were larger particles than what I normally see when I flush my tank. After flushing, the flow was back to normal. I told him I did not think it was necessary to install a new anode and the old one contributed to the problem he was having. He bought a new one and installed it anyway.
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Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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12-15-2014, 05:40 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Suburban water heaters (you don't heat hot water!!!!) is the only water heater that requires an anode. Using an anode in an Atwood water heater can void the warranty, as the manual specifically states that no anode is necessary or required.
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lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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