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Re: [Shop-talk] anode rods-- was the air saga continues

To: old dirtbeard <dirtbeard@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] anode rods-- was the air saga continues
From: Tim <tputland@charter.net>
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 14:02:33 -0400 (EDT)
Here's a question: Where can I get an anode rod? I have not seen them at 
the HomeDespot or the Ace Hardwares I have been in--but often admit to 
being blind. I doubt the Farm&Barn would have them either.

Thanks


On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 12:46 PM, old dirtbeard wrote:

>> You do change out your hot water heater tank anode every 3-5 years 
>> and flush
>> the tank every year or so, if it's bottom gas fired, right?>
>>
>> Jack
>
>
> Yes, I do, anyway. I pulled the anode out of my 75 gallon tank when it 
> was five years old and it only had a few inches of magnesium left at 
> the bottom of the rod. Since it is in a closet, I got a segmented rode 
> that you can "fold" so you can put in a full length rod even though 
> you do not have sufficient clearance. The basic wisdom is that a rod 
> will last about five years without a water softener and only three 
> years with a softener.
>
> I also put a 3/4" ball valve on the drain so that it can really flush 
> the tank with some "gusto" (the original small drain valve really 
> would not flow enough water to suck up the large decayed rod sediment 
> off from the bottom of the tank. The hose on the ball valve now will 
> shoot water and sediment 30 feet into the air). :-)
>
> I know the standard information says in order to flush, just drain a 
> few gallons out of the tank. What I found works the best is to 
> completely drain the tank by flushing it out the 3/4" ball valve, then 
> open the cold water inlet just enough to pressurize the tank and put a 
> few inches of water on the bottom of the tank, then open the ball 
> valve to flush the few gallons of fresh water off the bottom of the 
> tank. By repeating this process multiple times, it removed a great 
> deal of sediment off the bottom of the tank that normal draining did 
> not remove (I was amazed how much sediment remained in the tank after 
> "normal flushing").
>
> The tank also is much quieter now (no knocking/thudding) when the 
> burner is running.
>
> best,
>
> doug
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