DIYbanter - View Single Post - sacrificial anode -- I'm confused

Nate Nagel

wrote:
On Dec 7, 3:56�pm, Doug Lassiter wrote:

Hi -

I have a Whirlpool Flame-Lock 40 gallon gas water heater. It's about a
year old and has a 12-year warranty. I realize that �in a year or two
I should be inspecting, and possibly replacing the sacrificial anode.
But the installation instructions and use & care guide for the heater
say little on how to do it. In particular, the instructions don't even
say where it is! In fact, the instructions say that "each water heater
contains at least one anode rod". NIce. Now maybe tell me how many
*mine* has?

Yes, I know that one kind of anode can be on the outlet, and another
can be in a separate port at the top of the water heater with a hex
head. But I don't know which I have, or if I have both. I also
understand that a 12-year warranty (versus a 6-year warranty) may
point to two such anodes. You would think that some documentation
would cover this.

There are two ports on top of the water heater (in addition to the
water inlet and outlet). One is filled with spray-in foam, and I'm
reluctant to go digging that stuff out to see what is under it.
Another has a plastic cap on it that is flush with the surface. (A
little hard to get back there to see what is under that cap.) There is
no *obvious* hex head sticking up anywhere.

It is quite perplexing that the support materials don't give this
info, though I guess that Whirlpool has no incentive to tell me how to
extend the life of the unit (though they do tell you how to drain and
flush in some detail).

Can anyone give me some pointers here?

Thanks,

Doug

a few questions, what did that tank cost you? are you prepared to
replace it now if mucking with the anode causes a leak? is there
cieling space to get a new anode in once you get it loose? how many
other things could you be fixing on your home to extend or enhance its
life? in 12 years its highly likely a new more efficent tank design
will be available.
do you know many tanks fill with crud decreasing thei gallon capacity
long before they leak.

all of these should be considered before you get over ambitious
maintaing a siple realitvely cheap appliance

I don't see that it's a big deal to let a few gallons out the drain
valve every year, and also check the anode. Only costs you a little
time and maybe some pipe dope or tape. Also a new water heater isn't
"cheap" at least by my standards, the tank alone would run 4-500 bucks,
and install would probably be at least the same. Might as well save my
money and keep an eye on it. I just replaced two anodes in some really
old water heaters, primarily because one of them is a really expensive
indirect solar deal that I just couldn't afford to replace.

nate

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