This guide will help you find how to change anode rod in RV heaters; keep staying with us at the end! Whenever it concerns RV hot water system improvements, such as replacing the anode rod, it might appear like there are never enough hours in the day.
An anode rod can be used in many recreational automobile hot water tanks to keep the central tank from rusting. To prevent the water heater from malfunctioning, you must replace it.
You simply have to follow this guide to discover everything you could want to know regarding RV heater anode rod replacement and why that is so important to examine it regularly. The anode rod in your camper’s water heater has nothing like the rule that frequent RV service is the greatest method to maintain the investment you put in your toy hauler, fifth wheel, or trailer. So without further ado, let’s get started!
What Is Anode Rod In RV Water Heater? Why Should You Replace It?
The anode rod in your RV water heater is a replacement component. The rod is made of a substance that attracts impurities that might otherwise deposit on the core inner wall, corroding the heat exchanger or metallic walls and potentially forcing malfunction. This rod is sacrificial, meaning it will corrode first, protecting the inside of your RV hot water system tank and extending its lifespan. A process known as galvanic corrosion happens whenever water and metal come into contact.
Compared to the steel water heater tank, the anode rod is constructed of a lighter, higher negatively charged substance, which attracts particles from the water and enables them to nibble away at the rods rather than the inner wall.
Magnesium, aluminum, and copper are the most common anode rod materials, and they will rust when there is nothing. Your tank may rust out rapidly if you do not replace the old anode rods before they dissolve. When the heater corrodes, it’ll just leak water over your RV’s floors, necessitating costly and time-consuming adjustments and purchasing a replacement hot water system, which may quickly spoil your traveling period.
Mineral deposits can cling to the heat exchanger and damage even though the tank does not rust. It’s critical to examine and replace the anode rod in your recreational vehicle’s water heater once every month. It’s preferable to clean out the tanks simultaneously to get rid of deposits that can corrode the inside of the tank. The frequency with which you go traveling and the purity of the water supply both influence how quickly or slowly your RV’s anode rod corrodes.
If you have an RV water softener, you may realize that you should go more than a year without having to repair it. Therefore, if you live in an area with really hard water, you may have to change the rod after six months.
Steps To Change Anode Rod In RV Heaters
Here’s how to change anode rod in RV heaters:
Step #1. Unplug the heater
Unplug your camper from shore power or switch off the breaker to the system at the RV breaker box before replacing the anode rod in your RV hot water tank. Close the valve on the gas tank that is fueling your water heater if it operates on propane
Step #2. Remove the water heater from the RV
After you’ve turned off the electricity and water to your RV, drain the water from the hot water tank so that you can check the anode rod. If you dump the tank just after shutting off the RV electricity, the water tank will be extremely warm. Allowing the water in the tank to settle for many minutes or taking measures while draining the tank, such as wearing heavy protective gloves and staying to the back to prevent having blasted, are all options.
Step #3. Remove the anode rod
If your anode rod attaches to the drain plug, you’re in luck because you can check it immediately. You can now detach the anode rod from its port if it is on the unit’s exterior but not attached to the drain plug. You’ll have to relocate to the inside of your camper to replace the anode rod from 6 or 10-gallon gas heating systems having the anode rod at the front of the bottom of the tank.
Remove the anode out from the tank using your hook set. If you’ve not looked on the anode rod in a while, it might get jammed due to rust reaching the threads. To provide enough power to remove the anode rod from the threads, you may need to use a breaker bar on your screwdriver handle. You may also be interested to know about the types of water heater anode rod issue.
Step #4. Replace the new anode rod
Wrap the threads in Teflon tape before installing a new RV anode rod. To achieve a better seal against leakage, wind the tape around the threads clockwise. Utilize your socket wrench to fit the replacement anode rod into the opening in the tank.
It’s A Wrap!
We hope you have learned how to change anode rod in RV heaters after reading this article. We have discussed step by step the detailed guide above. You may also want to read about what does a water heater anode rod do and what are the parts of a water heater. Thank you, friends, for being with us at the end!