Anode Rod

[LKANER]

I noticed when I drained my recently purchased 2006 Adventure water heater that the drain plug was plastic and there was no Anode Rod attached. should there be ? should I replace the plug with a metal one with the rod attached ? thanx Len

[edj]

Do you have a Suburban water heater? I think that is the only one that needs an anode rod. I thought that Atwood did not use an anode rod, but I just looked at Camping World and they sell anode rods for an Atwood brand also. I have never seen an Atwood than need one though.

[NLOVNIT]

It depends on the brand of tank you have.

If it's a Suburban brand, you should have a rod & if you don't see one (or remnants of one) then it corroded away & you will need a new one.

If you have an Atwood brand, they don't have rods & don't need them because their tanks are a different metal (aluminum lined, I think).

Lori-

[RickO]

Originally Posted by edj

I thought that Atwood did not use an anode rod, but I just looked at Camping World and they sell anode rods for an Atwood brand also. I have never seen an Atwood than need one though.

Don't fall for the CW Atwood anode thing. Atwoods don't need nor should they have an anode. A couple of years ago i discovered this on my new coach. The dealer had sold me an anode telling me I needed it. When I drained the hot water tank after a year or so I had an unbelievable mess on my hands.

Why CW sells them is a mystery to me and in a thread dating back to that incident I don't think any other members could explain it either.

Rick

[NLOVNIT]

I think I've also read on the Forums, somewhere, putting an anode rod in an Atwood tank will void any warranty.

Lori-

[bachler]

Suberban Is a steel tank.. It needs an anode Rod. The atwood is aluminum Tank and does NOT use an anode; Unless you want to ruin your tank , Then Put an anoid in ti;; Also the Plastic plug Is Installed for a reason. DO NOT REPLACE IT WITH A METAL PLUG;;;;

[edj]

Originally Posted by bachler

Suberban Is a steel tank.. It needs an anode Rod. The atwood is aluminum Tank and does NOT use an anode; Unless you want to ruin your tank , Then Put an anoid in ti;; Also the Plastic plug Is Installed for a reason. DO NOT REPLACE IT WITH A METAL PLUG;;;;

I have an Atwood in my old 5th-wheel and a Suburban in my new one. I have always used the plastic plug and carry a spare just in case. I would think one of the primary reasons is that if the plug thread gets cross-threaded, it will destroy the cheap plug and not the very expensive aluminum tank thread.

[RickO]

I think it might be more due to what happens when dissimilar metals are in contact with each other causing the al tank and a steel plug to "weld" together.

Rick

[LKANER]

thanx to everyone for their input. this is why I love this site so much. the experience and knowledge of RVers far exceeds the dealers. Len