Replace the anode?

[TheBluebird]

Hello! I am fulltiming in my Chinook, 2003 Concourse, and it's now been six weeks. I am showering in it and the hot water is fine. I recently learned about the hot water anode. I contacted the previous owner who had it since new. The anode has never been replaced. Should I just go ahead and replace it? Or wait until there is some sign. If I wait, what signs indicate it is time to replace?

[sm350bl]

They are supposed to be replaced annually, There is probably nothing left of it. I would replace it with a new one. while its out I would flush the tank with the wand and try to get as much scale out of the tank as possible then pop the new one in.

[TheBluebird]

Ok, that's what I'll do. Thank you.

[Blue~Go]

On the annual replacement. I'd say check it annually, but you may not need to replace it. How fast it gets eaten up depends on the composition of the water. Water in some areas is hard on them; others not so much.

It looks kind of like a large piece of chalk attached to the back of the part you unscrew. It should be something like as thick as a garden hose (or maybe a bit less, but in other words, nearly as big around as the hole it comes out of). When they get super wasted they look more like a piece of wire with remnants of chalk stuck to them. That's past the point where you want to replace it, because the purpose of it is essentially that the anode gets eaten up so your water heater doesn't. Once the anode is gone, the "bad guys" in the water start eating up the water heater.

[chin_k]

I checked mine, and it was like brand new. I put it back. The water here is very hard, but I rarely use the water heater, and I left it drained when it is not used. I expect it to last for many years, but I will check on it annually like Blue says. No need to throw away a good rod.