I removed the Anode Rod from my gas Water heater. Am i in any danger?

Question

The pilot used to turn off so i was instructed to remove the Anode rod from the flue pipe. Now the flue pipe gets too hot. What do I do?

Answer 1

The anode rod is not in the flue pipe it is inside the water tank.The anode will have nothing to do with the pilot system.If you removed something from the flue way it was the baffle it is there to slow the flue gases from leaving the water heater too quickly so the heat will go into the water.This is why your flue pipe is getting very hot.You will now burn much more gas to heat the water because most of the heat is leaving before the water can absorb it.This also is not causing the problem with the pilot light.It could be one of many things that are causing this problem first it could be a weak thermocouple or the pilot is not heating the pilot correctly[too small of a flame or flame not hitting thermocouple correctly].It may be the gas valve is getting weak so it can no longer keep the pilot valve open[not likely but possible]It could be too much draft and pilot is being blown out could be not enough draft and the pilot is smothered out.I think that covers most problems I would check flame and thermocouple as this is usually the problem.

Answer 2

No but your tank is.
The number one water heater killer is rust. Every water heater has a magnesium or aluminum anode rod in the inside that electromagnetically corrodes so the tank won't. Sacrificial anode rods wear out. Their average life is about five years. Once it is spent, the exposed metal parts of your tank will begin to rust.

If the anode rod corrodes away, pieces of it may fall into the tank and rattle around as the water moves. If you use a water softener, anode rods corrode faster. It's wise to check the anode rod every other year, and replace it if necessary. If your hot water smells like sulfur (rotten eggs), something in your water is probably reacting with your standard magnesium rod. You should call us for an aluminum replacement rod.

Be sure to turn off the cold-water supply line to the heater first, then turn off the gas line that feeds the unit. (Switch off the circuit breaker on electric units.) Attach a garden hose to the drain faucet at the foot of the unit and drain off several gallons of water. Remove the old anode rod by loosening its hexagonal fitting on top of the heater with a wrench and lifting the rod out.

If you see rough, bumpy metal up and down the rod, that's normal. It's doing its job of rusting so your tank doesn't have to. If you can see six inches of the steel core wire, go ahead and replace the rod.

Before installing the new rod, wrap its threads with Teflon tape to get a good seal. Simply insert the rod into the tank and tighten it with the wrench.



Experts recommend that you drain some water form the tank about twice a year to prevent sediment buildup. Sediment can become a host for harmful bacteria, odor problems and noisy heaters.

Answer 3

This wasn't the anode rod you removed, you may have taken out the damper. Put it back. The anode rod is in the tank. It will make the water smell like sulfur when it's hot, leave it out. You'll have to flush the tank in the fall and spring.

Next time don't mess around with things you don't know about.

Answer 4

The annode rod is on the actual of the tank. It sounds like a hex nut and is generally approximately an a million a million/4 inch. you are able to eliminate it and decrease it off and placed the nut back in. yet I dont think of which will restoration the subject. The stink is actual interior the water and by using heating it, the tank only complements the smell. you're able to ought to get a water softener.

Answer 5

That was not the solution. You should consider to put back there!

Answer 6

if it wasn't there originally, its ok, butt no, it is there and you need to get rid of the HWH and buy a new one. they're cheap and you will have good service for another 5yrs