How the Anode Rod Protects Your Water Heater

Tuesday, May 10th, 2016 at 11:00 am

Any system that deals with a significant amount of water on a regular basis is going to have to deal with rust at some point in its life. Considering the fact that water heaters, especially tank models, deal with water constantly from the time they are installed onward, you would think that they'd be nothing but rust after a couple of years. The reason that tank water heaters are so rust resistant is because of a part called the anode rod. Let's take a closer look at the anode rod, and the benefits it offers.

What is an Anode Rod?

An anode rod is a long metal rod, typically made of magnesium, aluminum, or zinc, forged around a steel wire. This rod is inserted into the storage tank of the water heater, and while it's in the tank it will degrade. This attracts the ions in the water that are normally responsible for rust, in a process called electrolysis. As long as the anode rod is degrading, the water heater tank will be protected from rust. As effective as this process is, however, it is not permanent.

Why You Should Have Your Rod Checked

Eventually, the anode rod will degrade to the point that it can no longer attract the ions in the water. At that point, the rod will need to be replaced with a fresh one so that the water heater can remain protected. Otherwise, the water heater tank will resume rusting and could eventually rupture. Your water heater technician should check the anode rod, and replace it if necessary, during each annual maintenance appointment. You can also check the rod yourself, assuming you know what to look for.

American Heating & Cooling offers a full range of water heater maintenance services throughout Paintsville, KY. If you need to schedule water heater maintenance services, give us a call today.