Video: Replacing Your Water Heater's Anode Rod

SANTA CRUZ — Host, Sarah Rutan: As a crucial component in maximizing your water heater’s lifespan, it is important to periodically replace the sacrificial anode rod. Today, we’re in Santa Cruz with Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Scott Duncan of Duncan Plumbing, to learn more.

Diamond Certified Expert Contributor, Scott Duncan: The anode rod is a sacrificial anode that’s meant to corrode instead of your water heater. So, any electrical activity in your water or in your pipes will immediately go to this anode rod and it will corrode. Once it’s gone, once it’s fully corroded, then your water heater will start corroding.

Today I’m going to show you how to extend the life of your water heater by changing the anode rod. First, shut the water off to your existing water heater. Second, you’re going to disconnect the supply line going to the water heater. Now you have to get the best pair of pliers you have. Next, we’re going to remove the anode rod.

Now that we have our old anode rod out, we’re going to install our new one. I call this the nunchuck anode rod because it’s flexible and easy to slide in. Just take it and drop it right in your water heater, and screw it in there, and tighten it up with your trusty pair of pliers. And next we’re going to reconnect every – water supply and turn the water on. And there you have it.

Host, Sarah Rutan: To learn more from local top-rated companies, visit our Diamond Certified Expert Reports at experts.diamondcertified.org.