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FencingNerd t1_ja6gbda wrote

Reply to comment by Mysterious-Salad9609 in Maintain your water heater just once a year; it will last forever. by flyeaglesfly777

I replaced my anode rod last year. My conclusion, the anode rod lasts the lifetime of the water heater, which is defined by the lifetime of the anode rode.

There's a fundamental design problem. The anode rod is installed in the water heater at the factory. Removing the rod requires that you have 5ft of clearance ABOVE the water heater. If you don't have that, it's darned near impossible to replace. So it's effectively a lifetime item.

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Mysterious-Salad9609 t1_ja6o9cc wrote

That can be the case for many people, someone should design a collapsible one, or multiple part one that connects. allowing everyone to change it. I just bought a hybrid 80 gal, I only have 2ft of clearance above it. I'm gonna have to cut a hole in the ceiling and put in an access panel. glad mines in the garage lol.

When I pulled out my 12yo heater, the anode rod was nothing. There was nothing left.

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scrappybasket t1_ja6uyo1 wrote

I’m no plumber but I’d think it would be much easier to disconnect the water heater and tilt it sideways (after draining obviously). They’re not very hard to connect/disconnect and then you don’t need to cut a hole in your ceiling

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ShortUSA t1_ja7odoc wrote

With insufficient clearance it is my understanding that you break the old rod as you remove it and install a new segmented rod like this one... https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Lightning-Rod-Original3-4-in-Hex-Plug-Aluminum-Zinc/5001418315?cm_mmc=shp--c--prd--plb--ggl--LIA_PLB_209_Water-Heaters--5001418315--local--0-_-0

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FencingNerd t1_jabtjtg wrote

Breaking it isn't easy. There's a 3/16 stainless steel core rod in the middle of mine. I had to hack saw it out while it was partially out.
Not worth the effort.

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scrappybasket t1_ja8d7py wrote

I know you probably meant “rod” instead of “roof” but it’s especially funny given the context of this conversation lol

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ShortUSA t1_ja8e8x5 wrote

Thanks. You're correct, and I fixed my comment!

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Megamax_X t1_ja8hair wrote

That’s a good way to need a plumber. 90% of people should not attempt changing an aerator let alone an anode rod. Those things don’t just come out most of the time. Even if you do have clearance you should disconnect the water and gas lines just from danger of the water heater twisting when your wrenching them out. Everything on a water heater is technically easy but if you go into it thinking it’s going to be without having done it your setting yourself up for failure.

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scrappybasket t1_ja8t4pk wrote

I’m responding to someone who already plans to work on his water heater and wants to cut a hole in his ceiling to do so

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