Do I HAVE to use an anode rod in Suburban Why?

[Becky B.]

I like to empty my water heater each time I come back from camping. The anode rod in the Suburban water heater makes that task kind of a pain. My Atwood WH doesn't have an anode rod, so it's an easy thing to empty the tank. Can I lose the anode rod in the Suburban water heater?

[masseyfarm]

If the tank is steel YES.
Atwood WH is aluminium.

Dave

[Jammer]

As Dave said, the Atwood tank is aluminum and does not use or require an anode.

Suburban tanks are steel. You can remove the anode, but doing so will shorten the life of the tank, especially if you travel in areas where the water is corrosive.

Water in Minnesota is calcium-laden and isn't corrosive, and people remove and throw away anodes in their water heaters (stick house, RV, doesn't matter) all the time here.

I don't know what the water is like in Indiana.

More here:

Lesson 8: Corrosion Control

[Becky B.]

Ok, I guess I'll have to stick with anode rod. Shoot!