Water heater anode

[Starbrightsteve]

My Hallmark camper came new with a cut off water heater anode. Apparently the folks at Hallmark don’t believe in anodes. Is there any good reason to not use an anode in a water heater?

 

[pvstoy]

Do you have a stainless steel tank? If so then no anode is needed.

 

[Starbrightsteve]

The tank is sold under the Suburban name. The six gallon tank is said to be a porcelain lined steel tank. If it was stainless they would have said it.

 

[pvstoy]

Yea if you have aluminum or stainless steel than no need. But it is recommended for your tank porcelain lined. If you know quality of water you can get away without one, but over time certain minerals and such with have a impact.
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porcelain lined steel tank need a anode rod - Google Search

 

[tbaxter]

My Hallmark camper came new with a cut off water heater anode. Apparently the folks at Hallmark don’t believe in anodes. Is there any good reason to not use an anode in a water heater?

Likewise on my 2024 Milner. I added an anode plug but not sure if it’s needed.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

If the water in your system contains microbes and sulfur, it can react with the anode and create H2S (rotten egg smell). From experience I can say that is not pleasant.

 

[Starbrightsteve]

So, should we assume we have sulfur and microbes in the water tank? When we get water here there and everywhere as we travel we probably get some of each occasionally. Is the anode supposed to deal with microbes(?) and sulfur?

 

[Starbrightsteve]

I’ve traveled all across North America always with an anode in my water tank. I’ve gotten water everywhere. So far, I have never noticed the smell of hydrogen sulfide coming from my water. Maybe it only happens in Hallmarks. But so far it has not happened to me. It’s too bad it happened to you. When I have noticed this smell, it has come from wells and was in both the cold water and the hot water taps. The cold water never passed by an anode. Are you sure the anode cause the problem?

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

So, should we assume we have sulfur and microbes in the water tank? When we get water here there and everywhere as we travel we probably get some of each occasionally. Is the anode supposed to deal with microbes(?) and sulfur?

IMO, it depends on your water supply. When we lived in Canby, we fought this problem constantly, to the point of hating tank style water heaters. After buying a RV with a Truma tankless WH, I won’t have any other style.