The $30 Part That Doubles Your Water Heater's Life

Every tank water heater contains a sacrificial anode rod — a magnesium or aluminum rod suspended in the tank that corrodes preferentially to protect the steel tank walls from rust. When the anode rod is depleted, the tank itself begins to corrode. That's when you get rust-colored water, sediment, and eventually a leaking tank.

The anode rod is the single most important maintenance item on a tank water heater, and it's almost universally ignored. Most homeowners have never heard of it. Most plumbers don't mention it unless asked.

A new anode rod costs $20 to $40 depending on the material and size. Replacing it every 3 to 5 years — or every 2 years if you have a water softener, which accelerates anode depletion — can double the service life of a tank water heater. A water heater that might otherwise last 10 years can last 20 with proper anode maintenance.

The replacement process takes about 30 minutes. The rod is typically located under a plastic cap on the top of the tank, or in some models, under the hot water outlet fitting. It requires a 1-1/16-inch socket and a breaker bar — the rod is usually torqued very tight from the factory.

If your water heater is more than 3 years old and you've never replaced the anode rod, call us. We'll inspect the rod, replace it if needed, and flush the sediment from the bottom of the tank at the same time. It's the best $150 you can spend on your water heater.