| If you have a RV water heater it is likely you have | | | | twenty minutes. |
| an anode rod in the inner tank. This little critter is | | | | To do this simply turn off the RV water heater and |
| probably the most unknown friend to most campers | | | | wait until all water in the tank is cooled and has no |
| that there is. The anode rod in your water heater is | | | | risk of being hot enough to burn you. Lift the pop off |
| a part in the water heater that makes the inner tank | | | | safety valve up to release pressure and to allow air |
| last longer. | | | | into the tank and then simply unscrew the anode rod. |
| Have you ever heard the expression "the sacrificial | | | | The water will drain quite quickly. It will even drain |
| lamb"? This is what the water heater anode rod is. It | | | | faster by opening a couple of faucets inside the |
| sacrifices itself so that the inner tank of your water | | | | coach. When the water has drained out of the water |
| heater can last an extreme amount of time longer | | | | heater just screw the new anode rod back into the |
| than had it not been in there. I was in Florida once | | | | opening. The most commonly used tool is a one and |
| and a RV Repair Facility / RV Parts Store had an | | | | one sixteenth thin wall socket. |
| entire wall of inner tanks for water heaters. I asked | | | | One might ask how they would know if the anode |
| why they had so many and this began my education | | | | rod needs to be replaced. You can do this by |
| on the all important water heater anode rod. | | | | removing the anode rod as explained in the previous |
| They explained that the water there had minerals in | | | | paragraph and when you remove it just look and see |
| it that just played havoc on the inner tanks. It ate | | | | how damaged it is. It is my opinion that if it is has |
| into the aluminum tanks and created pin holes which | | | | been sacrificed more than half of its original size to |
| of course caused the inner tanks to leak, especially | | | | go ahead and replace it. If however, budget is a |
| while the tank was under pressure. While this area | | | | constraint, you can put it back in and just check it |
| was severe, almost all areas have water that will | | | | again a little later down the road and replace when |
| cause this. The culprits are usually high contents of | | | | you think it has nothing else to give. Just remember |
| iron and or sulphates. | | | | that it is a lot cheaper and easier to replace an anode |
| The answer to some degree is the anode rod, which, | | | | rod than an inner tank. Always keep in mind how |
| depending on your water heater most likely will be | | | | much of an integral part the rod plays in extending |
| about three quarters of an inch in diameter and four | | | | the life of your inner tank. |
| and a half to nine and a half inches long. Some are | | | | Just as a little additional information the huge majority |
| made from aluminum or magnesium. It is most likely | | | | or RV water heaters are produced under two brand |
| threaded in the beginning with a hex head on the end | | | | names. The Atwood and the Suburban brands. The |
| and the remainder being smooth. The anode rod acts | | | | Suburban RV water heater is the only one to have |
| kind of like a magnet. It attracts the minerals that | | | | an anode rod as a standard part. The Atwood brand |
| eat into the lining of a tank and causes them to eat | | | | of RV water heaters have an aluminum tank where |
| into the rod instead. | | | | the Suburban has a steel tank but it is porcelain lined. |
| Since many campers don't even realize they have | | | | If you have any questions on parts for your RV |
| one, it is our hope that this article will be informative | | | | water heater or any other RV Parts or RV |
| enough that it will inspire action to check this baby at | | | | Accessories you can find the internet a great place |
| least once a year. It is an easy replacement and | | | | or resource for additional information and can contact |
| actually quite inexpensive, especially if you do it | | | | one of the many RV Parts Dealers online or you can |
| yourself. The part is probably only ten to thirteen | | | | also contact your local RV Dealership or RV Repair. |
| dollars and can be removed and replaced in less than | | | | |