<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Waterloo has the hardest city water in Canada.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Next up is Calgary (or was that Edmonton? Can't remember).</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><br></div>So corrosion is a real issue, whether from the original dissolved minerals, or the sodium chloride that replaces them through the water softener.</div><br><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">I inspected the sacrificial anode rod on the water heater after several years from its installation.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">It was TOTALLY gone. Only the steel wire core was left. </div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">I did replace it with a magnesium anode rod from Home Depot a few years ago.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Don't use the aluminum rods. They are cheaper, but only work if there is sulphur (Hydrogen Sulphide) in the water. </div>It had to be ordered online and picked up from the store. </div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">It was this: <a href="https://www.homedepot.ca/product/rheem-0-90-inch-dia-x-39-3-8-inch-l-magnesium-anode-rod-for-water-heater/1001628168">Rheem 0.9" and 39.5" long</a>.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">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).</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">One challenge was the length of the rod. and the clearance above the water heater.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">It barely made it angled. A few inches and it would not go in.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Some anode rods are segmented, like sausage links, so you can insert them regardless of the total length.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Another challenge was the sheer force needed to unplug the old one. </div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">I borrowed an impact wrench from my neighbour.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">After I got the original one out, checking on the new one after 2 years was easier. </div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">I got the correct size socket from Home Depot, and a tire wrench from Walmart.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">After 2 years, there was still more than half the material of the rod left.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">So maybe it is a 4 year schedule.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Make sure you shut the water intake valve to the heater, and drain some of the tank.</div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Perhaps set it to vacation mode a few days before. </div><div style="font-size:small" class="gmail_default">Otherwise, there is a risk of scalding.</div><br></div>
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