6 lift out and discard the old anode rod.
Replacing sacrificial anode water heater.
4 use a ratchet wrench and 1 1 16 inch deep socket to unscrew the anode rod from the heater.
That s why it s important to replace or at least check your anode rod every three years.
Turn off water and fuel supply gas or electric.
Bucket or hose to remove a couple gallons of water.
2 partially drain the water heater.
When the rod itself becomes so corroded that it can no longer do its job the tank soon rusts out leaks and needs replacement.
Rods are made from magnesium aluminum or aluminum zinc alloy.
5 if the anode rod won t budge slip a steel pipe onto ratchet wrench handle for extra leverage.
Once the anode is gone the tank begins to.
Possibly a helper or two replacement sacrificial anode rod.
Standard sacrificial anode rods are the more common water heater anode rod out of the 2.
In some cases replacing your water heater s anode rod yourself could void the appliance s warranty.
The length is the same as a flexible rob and install is the same.
1 turn off water and fuel supply gas or electricity to water heater.
First turn the power off to the water heater at the circuit breaker.
Most water heater manufacturers will recommend inspecting the condition of the sacrificial anode every one 1 to three 3 years and replacing it when consumed more than 50 1.
These anode rod replacement instructions presented here are generalized to work with a wide selection of brands and heater.
Many people are unaware of just how much the water heater s anode rod does in order to protect the lining of your heater s tank.
Removing the sacrificial anode rod.
However if you replace your water heater anode rod before it fails about every five years you can double the life of your water heater.
If necessary unscrew and lift off the cover from the top of the heater.
When the anode rod has rusted away the water heater s tank may begin to rust which will cause the water heater to fail and you ll end up paying hundreds for a brand new water heater.
How to replace a sacrificial anode rod.
A high quality 6 point 1 1 16 impact socket.
Inside every water heater is a long metal rod called an anode rod made of various metals.
That s why it s also referred to as a sacrificial anode.
This rod protects the tank from corrosion by corroding first before the tank.
Without it the water tank would start corroding from the inside out which would eventually result in a severe leak at the bottom.
This part literally sacrifices itself to keep the tank in optimal condition.
This is especially true if you have hard water or use a water softener.
For gas heaters you should turn off the gas supply.
Protect your water heater from corrosion by learning how to replace the anode rod.
Close the shut off valve at the cold water inlet line.
