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Nate Nagel Nate Nagel is offline
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Default sacrificial anode -- I'm confused

Mark wrote:
On Dec 7, 4:59 pm, Doug Lassiter wrote:

see here for PM ideas...


http://waterheaterrescue.com/pages/W...gevity/water-h...


Ah. I hadn't seen *that* particular page in the "rescue" site.
Especially useful. But one must take pause with words like "Now the
fun begins. On some tanks, the hex head of the anode is exposed and in
sight, such as in this picture. On others, it's hidden sometimes under
a sheetmetal top that's foamed into place."

So WHY can't Whirlpool just tell me where it is???

As it turns out, now that I've climbed up to have a look on the far
side of the hot water closet, that plastic cap is glued down with some
white material. Not at all easy to get out, and certainly not obvious
what's underneath it, except for lot of that white stuff. There is
also (hadn't seen it before I climbed up to look) a sheet metal
section ~2x2 inch, of the top of the heater that has perf marks around
it. In principle, it looks like it could get pried up.

I may just have to call the Whirlpool help line, where I'm afraid I'll
get someone who doesn't have a clue about these anodes.

Doug



The best way to extend the life of the heater is to keep the
temperature control set as low as you can and still take a warm enough
shower.

Mark



Curious why you say that, I've never seen that addressed...

I'm (barely) old enough to remember when "standard" water heater
temperature was 130F. Then people started recommending that you set it
at 120 so as not to scald children/elderly etc. Then they started
recommending that you set it back to 130F to prevent Legionella but
install tempering valves at any fixtures where it would be likely that
people could be touched by hot water.

I've just set my heater at 130F because I like a nice hot shower, don't
particularly want to get Legionnaire's disease, and it seems to do a
better job with dishes and clothes. I don't have any tempering
valves... I know, living dangerously, you can all laugh at me if I do
manage to burn myself. (I might change my tune if I ever have kids.)

nate

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