Hot water heater rod
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9891
Printed Date: 28 Jun 2025 at 11:45pm
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Topic: Hot water heater rod
Posted By: henryv
Subject: Hot water heater rod
Date Posted: 05 May 2017 at 5:38pm
At the bottom center of the hot water heater is a rod that screws in. What is that and does it stay in? Mine is rusty. 
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Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 May 2017 at 5:57pm
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It's your anode rod. You should pull an inspect with each winterization. Clean the threads, flush your hot water tank and reinsert if it's OK. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 05 May 2017 at 6:00pm
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Don't get worried if it starts deteriorating, that is normal. I will usually change it out after 2-4 years
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 05 May 2017 at 7:15pm
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Probably lasts different lengths of time depending on your water source. Ours has never seen or tasted municipal/city water. Only well water, 99% of the time ours. Still on our original anode rod, on our 2011 r-pod.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 05 May 2017 at 8:33pm
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I had a hard time getting a good seal this year because the female threads in the heater were quite rusted. I buffed it and the threads on the anode with a mild brush on my dremmel but it still took quite a bit of pipe dope to get a good seal. I left it stored for the winter with the anode out. Is there something I should be doing to prevent the connection on the WH side from rusting? Can that be replaced without replacing the entire heater? DIY? ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 06 May 2017 at 6:39am
Nope, it's permanent. While anything can be done with enough $$$.. it wouldn't be worth it to try to repair. That said, I have never heard of one needing it. Yes the threads rust a bit. I just hit them with a toothbrush, fresh two layer wrap of teflon tape, insert, tighten until firmly snug. Our Airstream's WH is 35 years old.. works the same way.. I always stored with the anode in, one less thing to do in the spring, and keeps the threads protected. New TT doesn't have an anode.. so..  ------------- |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 06 May 2017 at 7:04am
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Ditto!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Q7-retired
Date Posted: 06 May 2017 at 8:21am
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Just in case readers don't know what is an anode rod, please know is is a sacrificial piece of metal that is intended to rust and corrode away instead of the metal of your hot water heater. In combination, certain metals form a galvanic cell, like a battery. The less "noble" metal corrodes away (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_metal - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_metal ). There are many uses for sacrificial anodes, and you may have seen them with your homes electric water heater (the heating element is less noble), underground tanks, water intakes on ships and generally anywhere the presence of moisture allows the creation of a galvanic cell. Bottom line for podders is that the rod in your water heater is meant to corrode and be replaced. One normally removes the rod during winter storage to ensure the heater is empty of water. ------------- Best regards, Jim 2015-RP178 TV 2015 Audi Q7 TDI and 2017 Ford F150 At home in "Our Pod" |