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Call 240-540-5012August 4, 20264 min read
Inside almost every storage water heater is a metal rod whose entire job is to corrode first. Homeowners rarely hear about it until a tank fails early, which is a shame, because it is the single part most responsible for how long a tank lasts.
Storage tanks are steel with a glass lining. The lining is never perfect, so any exposed steel would rust. The anode rod is a more reactive metal that corrodes preferentially, protecting the steel for as long as the rod has material left.
Once the rod is consumed, corrosion moves to the tank wall. There is no repair for a rusted-through tank — that's why a leaking tank is a replacement conversation, not a repair conversation.
Anything that makes the water more aggressive or the tank work harder.
Ask whether your model's anode is accessible, what condition it's in, and whether replacement makes sense given the tank's age. On a tank already near the end of its expected service life, replacing the rod usually isn't the right spend — planning the swap is.
Ask about the anode rod while the tank is under ten years old. After that, the useful question shifts from protecting the tank to planning the replacement.
Keep reading
Water Heater Tips
Original project photos show a 40-gallon Bradford White replacement in Temple Hills, including copper connections, an expansion tank and metal flue work.
Water Heater Tips
Popping can be associated with sediment, but sound alone is not a diagnosis. Here is what to record before requesting a professional assessment.
Seasonal Maintenance
Incoming water gets colder, your heater works harder, and weak parts show themselves. Six checks worth doing before the first cold snap.
Show us the full heater, the model label and the vent or connections. Our team reviews the job and follows up with clear options.
Equipment experience
A. O. Smith is the line we stock and install most. We also work on the leading tank, tankless and hybrid systems already found in DMV homes.
THE HOT WATER EXPRESS
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Manufacturer names identify equipment we install or service. Hot Water Express is an independent local company; manufacturer authorization or endorsement is not implied.