Last year I was advised, to use a "anode rod" in my hot water tank, will I used one and it deteriorated so fast that I e-mailed Atwood water heater company and ask them for advise, here's their reply;



-----Original Message-----
From: Reitz, Todd @ ELM [mailto:reitz.t@atwoodmobile.com]
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 10:54 AM
To: Al Corrieri
Subject: RE: Atwood Mobile Web Site Response

Anode rods are unnecessary in Atwood water heaters.
Even though manufacturers of those devices claim they are made for our
water heaters, we do not advise using them.

"The Atwood water heater tank is constructed of a core of high strength
aluminum. The interior of the tank consists of a 15% thickness of type
7072 aluminum (pure aluminum and zinc) that is fused to the core during
the rolling process.
This material protects the tank from the affects of heavy metals and
salts found in waters throughout the country. It is anodic to these
heavy metals and acts much like an anode in a steel glass lined tank
except it will last much longer."

Also, if an anode rod is used, many times the metal that used for the
threads is incompatible with the aluminum and differential metal
corrosion occurs. The anode rod then becomes frozen in place and is
difficult, if not impossible to remove.

Anode rods are only necessary in glass lined tanks.

Todd Reitz, Customer Service
Atwood Mobile Products
1120 N. Main St
Elkhart, IN 46514
Ph. 866-869-3118
Fx. 574-206-9655
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/
Atwood Dealer Locator:
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/Service/Centers/default.cfm

 

Well this interesting.
My camper came new last year with the Atwood h2o heater and an anode rod installed. The rod is all but gone and I was about to go p/up a new one.
Thanks for the tip.

 

Very good information. Thanks for posting it.

Daniel

 

Excellent post Al, it answered my question exactly, the Carriage 5vers that I used to have always had one installed in the w/h, but my new trailer never had one and I was wondering why, now we know.

Thank you, Tim

 

In march my atwood water heater went out while camping in the Davis mountains. The thermostat went out. You could turn the heater on and it would keep getting hotter and hotter. I learned that if I turned the heater on for about 30 minutes ( ten gallon) and then turn the heater off it was good for at least two showers. I called atwood and every time I called I would have to drive up to the scenic overlook. Atwood was great, they walk me through trouble shooting the heater with a volt meter and gave me the part number needed.