Posts Tagged: aluminum anode rod
How an Anode Rod Works Inside a Water Heater Tank
How an Anode Rod Works at the Electron Level Quick Summary An anode rod is designed to corrode on purpose so the steel tank doesn’t. Understanding how an anode rod works means understanding basic electrochemistry, galvanic corrosion, and why the tank itself survives while the anode rod slowly disappears. In this article, I’ll explain how an anode rod works, the chemical process that sacrifices the rod, the different types of anode rods, and why replacing one at the right time can add years to the life of a water heater. … Read More
How a Water Heater Anode Rod Works
Why Every Water Heater Needs an Anode Rod (And What Happens When It’s Gone) Quick Summary All tank-style water heaters contain at least one anode rod. The anode rod is designed to prevent corrosion from damaging the water heater’s steel tank. The metals most commonly used in anode rods are magnesium, aluminium, or an aluminum-zinc alloy. These metals are used because they corrode more easily than steel, so they corrode rather than the steel tank. Well, until the anode rod is gone, then the tank corrodes. In other words, anode … Read More