Knowing how to tell if anode rod is bad should be easy, provided homeowners recognize the tell-tale signs of a failing magnesium or aluminum rod.
If you notice a decline in water quality, such as cloudy or rusty water, or detect a foul odor like rotten eggs from your hot water, it’s a clear indication that you may need to replace anode rod in your water heater.
Additionally, unusual noises coming from the water heater can also be an indicator.
Many things can happen to the anode rod inside water heater appliances. Join us in exploring these causes to know if your anode rod is going bad.
Table of Contents
How to Check a Bad Anode Rod
1. Prepare:
To perform the anode rod inspection and replacement, you’ll need the following tools:
- Long flexible pipe (length: sufficient to reach the tank’s drain valve)
- Owner’s manual (for guidance on partial draining, if applicable)
- Socket wrench (size: appropriate for anode rod’s nut)
It’s not easy to check anode rod as it is located inside the water heater tank. Before you can access and change anode rod in water heater units if they’re faulty, follow these steps:
- Disconnect the water heater’s power supply at the main gas valve (for gas versions) or the residential electrical panel (for electric units).
- Close the valve supplying cold water to the tank.
- Locate the tank’s drain valve and connect a long flexible pipe to it.
- Open a nearby faucet.
- Open the drain valve to start draining the water. Note that some anode rods may not extend to the tank’s bottom, requiring only partial draining. Refer to the owner’s manual for guidance.
- Use a socket wrench to remove the defective or corroded anode rod from the tank’s top.
We found this video to help you remove the anode rod from the water heater for assessment.
It’s important to note that specific instructions can vary depending on the make and model of the water heater.
Now, you can inspect the magnesium rod (or any other rod type). So, how do you know if it’s time to ditch the old anode rod?
2. Signs of a Bad Anode Rod
You might want to check out these bad anode rod symptoms and understand why they occur.
- Your water heater is aging. These appliances don’t last a lifetime, with most brands lasting only about a decade. You can decipher a water heater’s serial number to determine its age.
- Loud crackling, banging, or popping noises inside the hot water tank are indications of a deteriorating anode rod. The rod loses its ability to attract sediments, causing them to accumulate at the tank’s bottom.
- Frequent clogging of aerators indicates limescale formation.
- A sulfur-like “rotten egg” smell accompanying cloudy or brownish water also signals a failing anode rod.
- The water feels cold. Water heater anode rod problems lead to uncontrolled sediment buildup, interfering with the heating element function and creating a thick layer at the bottom, preventing gas burners from heating the water quickly.
- Interestingly, acidic water can also be detrimental to an anode rod. Excess hydrogen ions in the water causes an anode rod to go bad due to acidic water’s corrosive effects.
Anode Rod Replacement Guidelines
As part of routine maintenance anode rod requires periodic inspection every one to three years. So, how often to replace anode rod will depend on the assessment results.
In general, you must change the anode rod if it is less than 50% its capacity. Here are some guidelines.
- Consider replacing conventional anode rods with electrical, non-sacrificial versions if you have a water softener at home.
- Choose the correct anode rod for your water type. For example, an Al-Zn anode rod is ideal for hard water and well water. Meanwhile, titanium anode rods have a longer lifespan than Al and Mg.
Prolong the Life of Water Heater Anode Rod Tips
Knowing how to tell a failing anode rod is one thing, but prolonging its lifespan is another matter. So, how do you do it?
- Implement a strict hot water tank maintenance regimen by draining, sanitizing, and flushing it at least once annually. You may need to increase the frequency of flushing if you have well water with high levels of hardness minerals.
- Obtain a water sample and test its pH level. You can install a pH-balancing filter before the water enters the tank to mitigate corrosive effects. Please note that both acidic and alkaline water can shorten the anode rod’s lifespan.
FAQs
How much does it cost to replace the anode rod?
Replacing an anode rod DIY-style will only cost you the anode rod’s purchase price (about $50). On the other hand, hiring professionals can jack the replacement cost to about $200 or $300.
Should I hire a professional or replace the anode rod myself?
Hiring a professional to replace an anode rod or doing it DIY-style depends on your confidence and skills. Moreover, you will want to note the water heater’s warranty.
So, what happens if you replace the anode rod yourself? Although anode rod replacement is a straightforward process, you must know that some brands require professionals to perform such activities to avoid nullifying the water heater’s warranty.
Hence, you can perform a DIY anode rod replacement if the appliance no longer has a warranty. Get a pro if it does.
Conclusion
How to tell if anode rod is bad isn’t as complicated as some believe. Although assessing the anode rod’s current state is straightforward (you’ll see corrosion and limescale formation), getting there requires some elbow grease.
Replacing a failing anode rod is essential to ensuring optimum water heater function, allowing you and your family to enjoy hot water in many household activities.
Hopefully, we provided you with valuable information about the signs of a failing anode rod that requires immediate replacement. Now, you can share this newfound knowledge with your acquaintances.
As the founder of Usawaterquality, I have been working to deliver quality advice on utilizing water components for numerous households. Here, we believe that water quality is the most critical part of health care, so the investment and attention for the water system will never go to waste.