water heater anode

[tco2612]

I have a 2014 Livin Lite Camplite 11FK and the anode is looking bad where do I get one and how long do they normally last ? I have only had water in this camper one time for 2 weeks.

[gbpack]

I believe there is a previous thread about this somewhere. Anodes diminish a little every time you run the water heater using electric power. As I understand it, the anode protects the inner lining of the hot water tank by drawing away stray charges and currents caused by the electric heating element. So the more you use the water heater, the faster that you will need to replace it. Some people get a year out of them, some quite a bit longer than that. You can order replacement anodes online (we ordered one from Amazon) and they aren't that expensive. There are certain procedures you have to follow when taking out the existing anode for inspection or replacement, so be sure to follow those (turn off the power or propane to the WH, depressurize the tank first, etc.). It's a little daunting the first time you do it, but it's really not that hard to do (there probably are YouTube videos out there that show you how to do it). Also, when ordering one, note that there are two different kinds of anodes out there. Magnesium ones (the kind that comes with the WH when the trailer is made), and then there are aluminum ones (which I understand might last longer but don't work as well).

[pinstriper]

[span style="font-size:13.3333px;"]Do you have an internet connection ?

[/span][a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rv+water+heater+anode"]https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rv+water+heater+anode[/a]

Your paperwork should show the model, and it should also be marked on the unit itself.

[fasteddieb]

As a data point, our water heater is gas only, and after a couple seasons is mostly corroded away.

Will probably replace it on the next de-winterizing.

[gbpack]

As a data point, our water heater is gas only, and after a couple seasons is mostly corroded away.

Will probably replace it on the next de-winterizing.

 OK. Thanks for the clarification Eddie. I didn't know that it (the anode) was also being used up when running the water heater on propane.

[mitch]

Not to put to fine a point on it but I'm pretty sure that just having the water in the tank will lead to the slow dissolution of the anode.  It's not really connected to whether the water heater is being used or not, regardless of the heating source.

[furpod]

Not to put to fine a point on it but I'm pretty sure that just having the water in the tank will lead to the slow dissolution of the anode.  It's not really connected to whether the water heater is being used or not, regardless of the heating source.

This is correct. also, here is a picture.. the anode isn't dead until it looks like the top one..