Question about anode rod in WH

[ventport]

The Anode rod in my 3 year old Atwood water heater is very corroded right where the rod meets the threaded fitting. The rest of the rod shows some corrosion but not like by the fitting which has holes in it. Is this normal in such a short time? We are not full timers and the camper has only been used about 6 times a year for less then a week each time. Should I be draining the water heater in between camping trips in the summer? That would be a pain as the only drain is to remove the anode rod. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Are the anode rods available from Atwood at a reasonable cost?

[perryg114]

When the anode is gone then is the time to replace. Draining will make it last longer. The anode dies so your water heater won't have to.

[dwightdi]

Replacement rods are available. The rods erode to protect the tank. It is called sacrificial protection. If you have the electricity on the trailer when you store it, sometimes there can be a stray voltage and current that can occur which can increase the corrosion rate. It also could be that the water you have in your area could be more corrosive than normal water. I drain my tanks if I am not going to use the trailer for a couple months and of course over the winter I drain it.

[nm1oqrz]

Hello All. This question has been addressed many times on this forum.
Yes you can buy anode rods for Atwood WH but you can't buy them from Atwood because Atwood DOES'T recomend the use of anode rods in their WH. A support tech at Atwood told me that if an anode rod is used in one of their WH it would void the warrantee.
The Atwood tech also told me that Atwood requested CAMCO CO, who sells aftermarket anode rods that will fit in an Atwood WH, to stop advertising and selling anode rods for Atwood WH but to no avail.
Bottom line anode rods are not needed and should NOT be used in Atwood WH.
But if you own a Suburban WH you should always use an anode rod.
The technical reason is Atwood WH tanks are aluminum (anode rod not needed) and the Suburban WH tanks are steel glass lined ( anode rod should always be used)
Hope this helps, Happy camping nm1oqrz

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by ventport

The Anode rod in my 3 year old Atwood water heater is very corroded right where the rod meets the threaded fitting. The rest of the rod shows some corrosion but not like by the fitting which has holes in it. Is this normal in such a short time? We are not full timers and the camper has only been used about 6 times a year for less then a week each time. Should I be draining the water heater in between camping trips in the summer? That would be a pain as the only drain is to remove the anode rod. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Are the anode rods available from Atwood at a reasonable cost?

1- remove the anode rod.
2- install a drain plug where the anode rod should not be.
3- problem solved.

If you really want to, you can get a petcock type drain plug, so all you have to do is open the petcock to drain the tank.

[ventport]

Wow, I bought this water heater as a new SOB trailer take out. The RV place said the buyer wanted a bigger one with the 110 AC option. I always thought the anode came that way from the factory. The dealer must have put it in for the original customer. I will remove it. Thanks All. Brian