In a recent video on the YouTube channel LRN2DIY, hosted by Nils Rasmusson, a crucial yet often overlooked method for extending the lifespan of your water heater is revealed. This simple trick can potentially save homeowners thousands of dollars and prevent untimely water heater failures. Rasmusson delves into the maintenance secrets that can make your water heater last for decades longer, highlighting the Corro-Protec Anode Rod as a game-changing solution.
The Common Lifespan of Water Heaters
Water heaters typically have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years. As Rasmusson humorously points out, these devices tend to fail at the most inconvenient times, often resulting in significant damage to floors, carpets, and walls due to leaks. Despite their short lifespan, many homeowners are unaware of the basic maintenance required to extend their functionality.
Essential Maintenance: Flushing and Anode Rod Replacement
Rasmusson emphasizes two critical maintenance tasks: flushing the water heater and replacing the anode rod. Manufacturers recommend flushing the water heater every 6 to 12 months to prevent sediment buildup. However, this task is often neglected by most homeowners.
The second, and arguably more important task, is replacing the anode rod. According to Rasmusson, many people are unfamiliar with anode rods and their role in protecting the water heater from corrosion. Anode rods are sacrificial components designed to corrode instead of the water heater’s tank, thus extending its life.
The Role of Anode Rods
Anode rods are typically made of magnesium or aluminum alloys. Magnesium rods, which are usually installed in water heaters by default, corrode faster but are less expensive. Aluminum rods, on the other hand, last longer and are more effective at reducing the sulfur smell often associated with water heaters. Despite their importance, Rasmusson’s survey revealed that only a small percentage of people regularly replace their anode rods.
Introducing the Corro-Protec Anode Rod
The highlight of Rasmusson’s video is the introduction of the Corro-Protec Anode Rod, a powered anode rod that offers superior protection against corrosion and lime scale buildup. Unlike traditional anode rods, the Corro-Protec uses a small amount of electricity to provide continuous protection, making it a one-time investment for long-term benefits.
Rasmusson explains that the Corro-Protec not only eliminates the sulfur smell but also comes with a 20-year warranty, ensuring that your water heater remains protected for decades. The cost of powering this anode rod is minimal, approximately $2.80 per year, making it an economical choice for homeowners.
Installation Tips and Benefits
Installing the Corro-Protec Anode Rod is straightforward and can be done without replacing your existing water heater. Rasmusson provides detailed tips for a successful installation, including the use of a six-sided socket to avoid stripping and securing the water heater to prevent it from spinning during the process.
Once installed, the only maintenance required is to ensure that the green LED light on the power supply is on, indicating that the anode rod is functioning correctly. This minimal maintenance approach is a significant advantage over traditional anode rods, which require regular inspections and replacements.
The Cost and Value Proposition
While traditional anode rods cost between $30 and $70, the Corro-Protec Anode Rod is priced at $160. Considering its 20-year lifespan and the elimination of frequent maintenance, this investment is highly cost-effective. Rasmusson underscores the value of this product, noting that it can prevent the costly and inconvenient failures that often plague water heaters.
Real-World Impact
To illustrate the impact of not maintaining an anode rod, Rasmusson shares a personal anecdote about replacing a friend’s water heater. The old anode rod was completely corroded, leaving the tank vulnerable to failure. This example underscores the importance of regular maintenance and the benefits of using a powered anode rod.
Extra Tips from the Community
People in the comments shared their thoughts and tips: “Tip for pipe thread. Put teflon tape on first then pipe dope. You will never get a leak. I am a pipefitter and this is how we do it. If you have a impact gun that anode rod will come right out. If you have a electric hot water tank turn breaker off. When you drain water you may exposé top heating element to air and it will burn out. Make sure hot water tank is full before turning breaker on. Great video.”
Another commenter added: “The corro-protect anode sounds like a great idea. Im gonna check it out, thanks for the tip. A couple comments on the video: 1: Shut off the cold supply and open any hot water tap in the hosue to relieve the pressure, actuating the TRV could cause it to leak. 2) let the heater cool before draining, hot water can destroy a garden hose and cause scalding. 3) try using a 1/2 impact driver extract the old anode. If that doesnt work then go to the manual method using a breaker bar, BUT never use a torque wrench as a breaker, at best it will knock it out of calibration or worse”
A Game-Changing Solution
Rasmusson’s video provides invaluable insights into the often-overlooked maintenance of water heaters. By introducing the Corro-Protec Anode Rod, he offers a practical solution that can save homeowners significant time, money, and hassle. As more people become aware of this simple yet effective maintenance task, the days of unexpected water heater failures could become a thing of the past.
Approach to Home Maintenance
What do you think? How much value do you place on extending the lifespan of your household appliances, and how does this impact your approach to home maintenance? Have you ever calculated the long-term cost savings of maintaining your water heater versus replacing it periodically? How do these calculations influence your maintenance decisions?
See the full video on LRN2DIY’s YouTube channel for more details here.
