Winston wrote:

Leo Lichtman wrote:

"Winston" (clip) When I pulled the anode, I found that it was coated
with calcium and other stuff thoughtfully supplied by our water Co.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Something I have never done. Where is the anode located, or how can I
recognize it?


Older style water heaters have it located independently of anything
else. Look behind the exhaust stack. It's threaded into the top:
http://i.timeinc.net/toh/images/solu...eateratout.jpg

It looks like the head of a hex bolt, measuring 1-1/16" across the flats.

Newer style heaters have it sneakily hidden under the 'hot water out'
pipe. You disconnect the output pipe and unscrew the nip to which
it was connected, out of the tank. The anode is attached to the
bottom side.

If the tank hasn't been serviced recently, ion migration has caused
the threads of the anode and those of the top of the tank to 'become
one'. After you shut off the water and gas or electricity to the tank,
you may have to spray under the head with penetrating oil and stack ice
cubes in an open can over the anode head to shrink the parts away from
each other before wrenching it loose. This will require a breaker bar
or really long 1/2" drive ratchet.

If the tank is not firmly strapped to the wall, you will need to
come up with some sort of strap wrench to hold the top of the tank
so you can deal with Newton's Third Law when wrenching.

Beware of newer model replacement anodes. They have a series
resistor build in. (I have a bad feeling about series resistors
in this exceptionally low-resistance application).

--Winston


Might find the rod is very short - e.g. used up. Buy another at Sears or such.
Martin

--
Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn
@ home at Lion's Lair with our computer
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder