This One Repair Can Extend the Life of Your Water Heater

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about This One Repair Can Extend the Life of Your Water Heater and hope the blog can help you.

Instead of replacing the entire water heater, learn how to replace the anode rod to prolong the life of the unit.

A water heater is an essential part of most homes, providing hot water for cooking, cleaning, and personal care. With proper maintenance, a quality water heater typically lasts about 15 to 20 years, but if the water heater anode rod is not regularly inspected and replaced, the tank might rust out before it reaches 10 years of service.

An anode rod is a long metal rod, generally made of magnesium or aluminum. Its purpose is to attract iron, limestone, and other minerals in the water that would otherwise rust the inside of the water heater’s steel tank. Instead, the anode rod gradually corrodes in place of the steel tank, extending the water heater’s lifespan. In most cases, owners will need an anode rod replacement only about once every 3 to 5 years.

Those who hire a plumber to replace an anode rod can expect to pay about $200 to $300. However, most anode rods only cost about $20 to $50, so DIYers with even moderate plumbing experience can save money by performing their own water heater anode rod replacement. Follow the steps below to find the water heater anode rod location and learn how to take on this anodizing rod water heater repair.