[kwlug-disc] winter and furnace

[Khalid Baheyeldin]

Waterloo has the hardest city water in Canada.
Next up is Calgary (or was that Edmonton? Can't remember).

So corrosion is a real issue, whether from the original dissolved minerals,
or the sodium chloride that replaces them through the water softener.

I inspected the sacrificial anode rod on the water heater after several
years from its installation.
It was TOTALLY gone. Only the steel wire core was left.

I did replace it with a magnesium anode rod from Home Depot a few years ago.
Don't use the aluminum rods. They are cheaper, but only work if there is
sulphur (Hydrogen Sulphide) in the water.
It had to be ordered online and picked up from the store.
It was this: Rheem 0.9" and 39.5" long
<https://www.homedepot.ca/product/rheem-0-90-inch-dia-x-39-3-8-inch-l-magnesium-anode-rod-for-water-heater/1001628168>
.
There was a sticker wrapped around it, and it was a pain to remove it all
the way through (I think I used sand paper).

One challenge was the length of the rod. and the clearance above the water
heater.
It barely made it angled. A few inches and it would not go in.
Some anode rods are segmented, like sausage links, so you can insert them
regardless of the total length.

Another challenge was the sheer force needed to unplug the old one.
I borrowed an impact wrench from my neighbour.
After I got the original one out, checking on the new one after 2 years was
easier.
I got the correct size socket from Home Depot, and a tire wrench from
Walmart.

After 2 years, there was still more than half the material of the rod left.
So maybe it is a 4 year schedule.

Make sure you shut the water intake valve to the heater, and drain some of
the tank.
Perhaps set it to vacation mode a few days before.
Otherwise, there is a risk of scalding.
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