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Water heater anode rod?

Yahoo Message Number: 4850
Why doesn't the water heater on my Country Coach have an anode rod? I looked but could not find one. It has a plastic plug where the anode rod would normally go. Should I replace the plastic plug with an anode rod? Could it be that the tank design is one that does not require an anode rod?

Any ideas?
 

Re: Water heater anode rod?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4861
Not knowing what you have in coach and water heater, I will assume that you have an Atwood water heater. I asked the same question on my unit as well when I found that the previous owner had installed an aftermarket anode rod in place of the plastic plug. I called Atwood and they indicated that the anode rod was not necessary because of the alclad treatment they do to the tanks.

After I pulled out the anode rod to check it, I found that the zinc was 80% gone. So, I asked Atwood if it wood hurt anything to use an anode rod in the water heater and all they would say is that it is no necessary. Non-committal. I went ahead and replace it with a new anode rod. However, I do have some concerns of the disimilar metals problem created with the steel plug portion of the anode rod threaded into an aluminum boss on the tank. Could develop into corrosion and stress cracking at a later time. I will have to keep an eye on it as part of my maintenance plan.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: rvrobert2003
Why doesn't the water heater on my Country Coach have an anode

rod?

Quote
I looked but could not find one. It has a plastic plug where the > anode rod would normally go. Should I replace the plastic plug

with

Quote
an anode rod? Could it be that the tank design is one that does

not