SANTA CRUZ — One of the most crucial components of a water heater is its sacrificial anode rod. Made from magnesium, aluminum or aluminum/zinc alloy, this rod serves one function: to attract and absorb corrosion and divert it away from the water heater tank (hence the qualifier “sacrificial”). However, even though it protects a water heater from rust, an anode rod can stop working after years of sustained subjection to corrosive activity, which is why it’s important to replace it on a regular basis (every four to five years).
Fortunately, this is a maintenance task you can perform yourself. After shutting off the water to your water heater and disconnecting the supply line, use a pair of pliers to unscrew and remove the anode rod. Typically, the hexagonal head of the rod will be visible at the top of the water heater (if you have trouble locating it, consult your owner’s manual). Once the old rod is out, you can drop in the new one and tighten it in place with your pliers before reconnecting the supply line and turning the water back on.
Since corrosion is a common cause of water heater failure, anode rod replacement is just as important as annually draining and flushing the tank. Most notable is the effect on longevity—proactive anode rod replacement can substantially extend and even double a water heater’s expected lifespan.

How to Replace a Water Heater Anode Rod

Learn a step-by-step process to replace your water heater's anode rod, extending its life span and improving efficiency.

How to Replace a Water Heater Anode Rod by Scott Duncan

by Scott Duncan, a Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Video: Replacing Your Water Heater&#8217;s Anode Rod

as a crucial component in maximizing
your water heater's lifespan it's
important to periodically replace the
sacrificial anode rod today we're in
santa cruz with diamond certified expert
contributor scott duncan of duncan
plumbing to learn more
the anode rod is a sacrificial anode
that's meant to corrode instead of
your water heater so any electrical
activity
in your water
or in your pipes
will immediately go to this anode rod
and it will corrode
once
it's gone once it's fully corroded then
your water heater
will start corroding today i'm going to
show you how to extend the life of your
water heater by changing the anode rod
first shut the water off to your
existing water heater
second you're going to disconnect the
supply line
going to the water heater
now you have to
get the best pair of pliers you have
next we're going to remove the anode rod
now that we have our old anode rod out
we're going to install our new one i
call this the num chuck
anode rod because it's flexible and easy
to slide in
just take it
and drop it right in your water heater
and screw it in there
and tighten it up with your trusty pair
of pliers
and next we're going to reconnect every
our water supply and turn the water on
there you have it
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