Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts
Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:
Author:
syakoban (NJ)
I was reading this lengthy article on a web site stating that a magnesium anode is far better than an aluminum one on a new water heater? Is there any truth to that? How can you tell for sure what you are getting?
Thanks guys!
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
jimmy-o (CA)
Magnesium is further down the chart on the galvanic series, so it probably offers better corrosion protection. There are some issues if you have well water with sulphur content, the magnesium can produe sulfure oxide, or dioxide, and put an odor in the water. In those instances, you go with the aluminum.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
redwood (CT)
Its pretty much the water heater comes with magnesium and if your hot water smells like rotten eggs you change to aluminum.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Since 1995 (3 years before Google started) PlumbingSupply.com has been THE best plumbing supplier on the web. Please visit our sponsor [www.PlumbingSupply.com]
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
syakoban (NJ)
The article says that magnesium is preferred. Is that true?
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
jjbex (IL)
Does the author have an axe to grind? Or anode rods to sell? I agree with the others, use aluminum if the you get the sulphur smell. They cost about a c-note. Flushing a water heater every couple of months will help extend the life. Around here, you can't use dielectrics, it's all brass/copper or you get about 5-6 years, max.
------------------
"You can't get there from here"
Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
dlh (TX)
yes and no. if you listened to the others you would understand that it depends on your water. the magnesium rod is cheaper and offers better corrosion protection and is why most water heaters come with them.
- - - - - - -
PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
redwood (CT)
Some neat reading on corrosion:
[www.corrosion-doctors.org]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Since 1995 (3 years before Google started) PlumbingSupply.com has been THE best plumbing supplier on the web. Please visit our sponsor [www.PlumbingSupply.com]
Edited 2 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
syakoban (NJ)
Yes... they do sell anodes... and they say this:
"If you were to buy a 12-year-warranty heater, likely the only difference between it and a 6-year-warranty one would be extra anode: either a larger-diameter hex anode, or a normal one along with a half-length outlet rod in the hot port. We'd rather see you put a full-length rod there -- and save the premium you'd pay for the longer-warranty tank."
Any truth to this statement?
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
redwood (CT)
Most water heaters the only difference between the 6 year and 10 or, 12 year would be the price you pay. Its like an insurance premium more than any thing else. The anode is a sacrificial metal that corrodes instead of the steel tank. When the anode is gone the tank starts to corrode. Additional anodes will offer better protection longer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Since 1995 (3 years before Google started) PlumbingSupply.com has been THE best plumbing supplier on the web. Please visit our sponsor [www.PlumbingSupply.com]
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
At least one manufacturer sells you the standard 6 gallon tank and then charges you about $150.00 extra if you want it to be a 10 year heater, with no changes to the tank.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
syakoban (NJ)
Well we do plan on moving in about 5-6 years so I gather the 10 year won't give us better performance while we're here, just extra warranty expense. (???)
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
That's about it. If the heater fails during the 7th to 10th year you got lucky if you bought the extension. If it lasts til the 11th year, you wasted your money.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
dlh (TX)
as the others have stated, it is usually nothing more than an extended warranty with nothing different about the tank.
- - - - - - -
PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Lenain (CA)
There are so many comments here that are half right and half wrong that I felt compelled to add my own. I am Randy Schuyler. I dislike aluminum for a lot more reasons than that.
Actually, magnesium anodes cost more than aluminum, not the other way around. Magnesium has a higher driving current, so it protects a tank better than aluminum. But more than that, its corrosion properties are superior. When an aluminum anode corrodes, it expands to larger than its original diameter, which can make it entertaining to try to remove one for inspection later. Often, it splits away from the core wire and snags on the underside of the top of the heater when you try to remove it. And it creates about a thousand times its original volume in corrosion byproduct, which falls into the bottom of the heater to add to sediment buildup.
If you have the misfortune to need the water in an emergency, it will be waiting there, the first thing out the drain valve, and it is unhealthy stuff. A British doctor experimented with aluminum cookware after World War I and found the metal readily leaches into standing water and causes stomach ulcers and arthritis-like symptoms.
For odor issues, DON'T replace a magnesium anode with a pure aluminum anode or you'll be disappointed. It will smell just as bad. The correct item is an aluminum/zinc anode, 92 percent aluminum, 7 percent zinc, 1 percent other metals. The zinc is important in masking the odor. The issues with aluminum are the same as above and require precautions when running water for cooking for drinking. The reason pure zinc isn't used is that it reverses polarity in hot water and consumes the heater instead of protecting it.
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Please note:
- Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
- Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
- Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
- Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.
Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:
Special thanks to our sponsor:
|