Simple water heater cleaning trick

11-07-2008, 03:22 PM

I did no see this posted elsewhere so I thought I would share it. When you remove the anode for replacement, the manufacturer suggests you allow water to enter the water heater and run out the anode hole to clean out any deposits that may have settled to the bottom. This is an effective solution, but messy as the sludge runs down the side of the TM. A simple tick is to purchase a nylon plumbing adapter <$! with the proper pipe threads to fit the anode hole on one end and a hose barb on the other. Connect about a foot of plastic hose to the hose barb and now the nasty stuff from the bottom of your water heater drains away from the side of your TM. Once clean, simple remove the adapter and insert the new anode rod.

11-07-2008, 03:36 PM

If you are not going to use the wand then that certainly is viable. When using the wand it would be a problem.

I have learned that no matter how hard you try to get the gunk out without using the wand it just isn't enough. Nothing I know of beats the wand.

**Bill** · 11-07-2008, 04:32 PM

I'm missing something. How do you get the stream of water into the water heater, so it can flush out through the anode rod opening? Can you slide a piece of 1/4-inch tube up through the 1-inch tube that drains the anode rod opening?

Bill

Virginia Deacon · 11-08-2008, 04:54 PM

What "wand?"

**rtcassel** · 11-08-2008, 05:27 PM

http://www.folandsales.com/catalog.a...showprevnext=1

Virginia Deacon · 11-08-2008, 08:43 PM

Thanks, Tim. I'm no longer in the dark. Looks like the wand would be a handy tool to have!

11-08-2008, 10:45 PM

The wand, a large socket, and a spare anode are all part of my emergency kit...you just never can tell when you might need it.

11-10-2008, 05:45 PM

Maybe this is a silly question, but......
Will I still have the same issues with build up on the anode and the need to replace the anode every few years if I never use the electric side of the water heater? At this stage, i only ever use gas for water heating and I am wondering if I need to be aware of the same anode issues as the electric water heating crowd.

Wavery · 11-10-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceyMac

Maybe this is a silly question, but......
Will I still have the same issues with build up on the anode and the need to replace the anode every few years if I never use the electric side of the water heater? At this stage, i only ever use gas for water heating and I am wondering if I need to be aware of the same anode issues as the electric water heating crowd.

The issue is electrolysis. That is caused by the flow of the water and different types of metals used in the system. The "Sacrificial" anode is there to protect the other metal parts in the system from eroding. That doesn't change with the heat source. You will still need to check the anode periodically.

**rtcassel** · 11-10-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceyMac

Maybe this is a silly question, but......
Will I still have the same issues with build up on the anode and the need to replace the anode every few years if I never use the electric side of the water heater? At this stage, i only ever use gas for water heating and I am wondering if I need to be aware of the same anode issues as the electric water heating crowd.

http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...er-anodes.html