Water heater anode rod

Kevjan

Member
We just bought this 2010 Heartland North Country 26SRL. I am trying to check everything out and get it ready to go camping. I have circled the fitting that I think is supposed to be the location of the anode rod in the picture. It just has a couple of fittings in the threads to plug the hole. Is this where the anode rod is supposed to go and what length anode rod do I need? Your help is appreciated. The manual for the Suburban water heater is worthless except for showing how to light it. Thanks
 

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TrailCreek

Well-known member
Looks like our 12 gallon gas/electric but could be less. I believe all Suburban W/H have the same size thread but check annode rod specifications on Amazon to see if your model number is included.

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Gary521

Well-known member
Yes, that's where the anode rod fits. All Suburban water heaters take the same anode rod. It looks like what you have here is an anode rod with a drain feature built in. You can get these on Amazon.
 

wdk450

Well-known member
You need to have a big socket of the right size (1 1/8" ?) to remove the anode rod. Every time I service my water heater, I remove the electric heating element, chuck it in my vice on the picnic table, and go over it with a wire wheel brush in my drill to remove scale.

Also you need a water heater flusher tool to flush the residual scale out the bottom of the tank.
 

Kevjan

Member
How many of you use electric only for your hot water? I have never used an electric hot water heater in an rv.
 

cookie

Administrator
Staff member
We don't use electric only but we do use it the majority of time.
Also be sure to vacuum those cobwebs from your water heater.

Peace
Dave
 

wdk450

Well-known member
How many of you use electric only for your hot water? I have never used an electric hot water heater in an rv.
I am fulltime in RV parks for about the last 8 years. I have only spent about 10 days "boondocking".
Electric power (unlike propane) is INCLUDED with RV site rent $. I have used my furnace maybe 3 times in the last couple of years. I have the electric fireplace plus a good electric space heater. My main propane use is my cooking stovetop burners, but I DO have a an electric induction cooktop burner, too.
 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member
Socket is 1 1/16”. The threads are standard for any anode rod and a 9” rod should suffice. Use some Teflon tape on the threads when installing it.


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TrailCreek

Well-known member
WDK450: Many of the long term stay parks we stay in (Full Timers) charge for electricity for stays over a month. Still, the discountd rate makes it a wash most months. For us, summer in Florida and 3 ac's can top $200 a month. We still prefer electric fireplace, electric water heater, space heater, one AC and 2 heat pumps for our needs. Only time we fire up the furnace is when temps go below 36 degrees.

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MTPockets

Well-known member
You need to have a big socket of the right size (1 1/8" ?) to remove the anode rod. Every time I service my water heater, I remove the electric heating element, chuck it in my vice on the picnic table, and go over it with a wire wheel brush in my drill to remove scale.

Also you need a water heater flusher tool to flush the residual scale out the bottom of the tank.
Mine was was 1 1/16, changed it yearly
 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member
While we had the BH on a seasonal site, we primarily ran the water heater on electric, even though we paid for it. Eliminated the recurring hassle of frequently wrestling a 30lb. tank out and into the compartment under the bedroom slide.


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Piperflyer

Well-known member
Make sure you relieve the pressure in the tank before removing the rod or you'll get a face full of hot water when the rod comes out.
 

david-steph2018

Well-known member
How many of you use electric only for your hot water? I have never used an electric hot water heater in an rv.
We use electric only about 90% of the time to heat the water. We turn on the propane when we forget to turn on the electric or need it to heat faster.
 

RickL

Well-known member
I have used both. Once I get to our destination I/or the wife turn on both and leave them on. As far as cleaning the electrical part, it’s only @ $15 so while I do the anode around twice a year I will do the electric once a year. I also make sure I rinse the tank until I no longer get any build up flushing out.
 

Dmetcalf

Well-known member
My water heater didn’t come with an anode rod in it. Should I install one using the drain plug as my access point..?
 
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