I pulled the van out today to ready it for a specific trip. Its 10 months old. I wanted to drain the water tank and check the Anode for wear. First I lifted the relief valve at the top. No pressure at all . Soooo in undid the 1 and 1/16 hex head some hissing and a small mist of cold water. Another turn more hissing /water. another turn and Boom water and sh....t covers me the fence and the ground.
The anode blew out with such force like a water canon. When I got over the initial shock and picked up the anode rod there was bugger all left of it. We have done one twelve week trip to WA in it.
All the rubble that blew out with the water was unreel. Q. Is this normal behaviour. I then used the hose to flush out the tank, more rubble then a small black O ring about 8mm in as new condition came out.
I opened the hot taps as per instructions and refilled first both water tanks then turned on the water pump to refill the water heater, bleeding the air out of the lines at the same time. Topped up the water tanks again. all good.
When the new anode arrives. Q. Will I experience the same blast when replacing the original. I seems to me that there was a massive air compression within. As for the O ring yet another Q.
I will let the service people know what did happen.
My Anode was eaten away and after this little exercise, I will replace without fail every 12 months.
On replacing the new Anode. I will leave the hot water tank empty, till our next trip.
Is this normal in servicing your Anode.
Regards Jim
I quickly got on Flea Bay and ordered a replacement 19 smacko's.
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Thursday 17th of November 2016 03:26:01 PM
2weis said
03:41 PM Nov 17, 2016
all pretty normal
but why no pressure was released when you opened the relief valve I have no idea
yes you should have pressure build up again now and what the o ring is no clue either
brian
valiant81 said
05:01 PM Nov 17, 2016
Hi all;
Jim, I replaced my anode for my hot water heater in the caravan and it also had been replace about 12 months before hand, what surprise me was the amount of white rubbish that was inside of the water tank. A good flush out with the high pressure gurney and good. Best to keep a spare anode in the caravan, just in case.
Others may differ, but i would keep your water heater tank full, maybe check your anode every 6 months.
Good luck.
-- Edited by valiant81 on Thursday 17th of November 2016 05:02:00 PM
PeterD said
05:15 PM Nov 17, 2016
Hey Jim wrote:1.. I opened the hot taps as per instructions and refilled first both water tanks then turned on the water pump to refill the water heater, bleeding the air out of the lines at the same time. Topped up the water tanks again. all good.
2.. When the new anode arrives. Q. Will I experience the same blast when replacing the original. I seems to me that there was a massive air compression within. As for the O ring yet another Q.
1.. Should have done that before touching the anode.
2.. Not if you open a hot water tap first, see 1...
Steve11 said
06:12 PM Nov 17, 2016
Hi Jim, similar experience but at least i didnt get messy. Lifted relief valve and opened tap etc. Removed anode....after only 15 months from new and probably only 8 weeks total use. Take a look at the photo to compare old vs new. I didnt have an anode at the time so I replaced the old one but did not refill or use the water system at all for one week. Then after buying a new one I removed the old one and there was a build up of pressure even though there had been no water in the hws or any use of the van and taps for a week. Maybe if you are staying home for more than a few weeks then it may pay to drain the hws!
Peter Are you saying to turn on the hot water on both sink and shower as well, before removing the anode.My water pump was off before undoing. Yes.
Regards Jim
Jim
Cruising Cruze said
10:17 PM Nov 17, 2016
Hi Jim
Price yourself lucky nothing serious happened
You not the first one it happened to, and for sure not the last one
Happens to most people that check them for the first time
Cheers John
PeterD said
11:48 PM Nov 17, 2016
Hey Jim wrote:
Hi peter D And everyone,
Peter Are you saying to turn on the hot water on both sink and shower as well, before removing the anode.My water pump was off before undoing. Yes.
Regards Jim
Jim
You only need to crack one tap open to relieve the pressure. You will still get water coming out when you remove the anode but there should be no great pressure behind it. After all there is water higher up in the cylinder than the anode hole.
Hey Jim said
07:53 AM Nov 18, 2016
Hi Peter,
Thanks for that. When we get the van back, I will replace the anode when it arrives in the mail. IF it does the hissing thing, I will let it hiss a lot longer.
Jim
rgren2 said
11:17 AM Nov 18, 2016
If you do get drenched in water as I did recently, remove your phone from your wet clothing. I'm the proud owner of a new phone now. Yes I did do all the drying things that Mr. Google suggested.
Phil C said
06:55 PM Nov 18, 2016
Gday Jim
When I do our (every 6 mths check) I disconnect everything (water) turn off power (you dont way the element coming on when its empty) and release the over pressure valve (open taps if thats what floats your boat).
Anode comes out, water everywhere (wait for it to cool). Then a clean out, same story as you but Im told that normal. Renew or replace anode, open taps, over pressure valve and turn on water till it spurts out of the outlets. Close down taps etc and turn on the electricity/gas.
Happy hunting
ST391GQ said
08:29 PM Nov 20, 2016
I,m very relieved to know that I wasn't the only one that "wore it" the first time changing anode hey. Btw ...that bloody white stuff don't taste too good either.....but I got a handle on doing the damn things now ....so all is good.
Cheers Keith
JeffRae said
08:49 PM Nov 21, 2016
If you are traveling in WA, check the anode, water kills them over here. Lot of people get water inside van when they change the anode
Muddy said
06:29 PM Nov 22, 2016
JeffRae wrote:
If you are traveling in WA, check the anode, water kills them over here. Lot of people get water inside van when they change the anode
Just what I was thinking Jeff! I replaced my first anode after 6 months. It had necked (not down to the carrier rod for only 15mm from the securing nut and was unused to the end so I thought I will leave it for 12 months in future. Must be water as I keep my tank full also?!?!
Spook said
08:53 PM Dec 24, 2016
If the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level in the water is more than about 300PPM (Parts Per Million) anode corrosion rate will be increased. Fear not though, as the anode corroding is protecting your cylinder (cathode) as it corrodes.
Hi all,
I pulled the van out today to ready it for a specific trip. Its 10 months old. I wanted to drain the water tank and check the Anode for wear. First I lifted the relief valve at the top. No pressure at all . Soooo in undid the 1 and 1/16 hex head some hissing and a small mist of cold water. Another turn more hissing /water. another turn and Boom water and sh....t covers me the fence and the ground.
The anode blew out with such force like a water canon. When I got over the initial shock and picked up the anode rod there was bugger all left of it. We have done one twelve week trip to WA in it.
All the rubble that blew out with the water was unreel. Q. Is this normal behaviour. I then used the hose to flush out the tank, more rubble then a small black O ring about 8mm in as new condition came out.
I opened the hot taps as per instructions and refilled first both water tanks then turned on the water pump to refill the water heater, bleeding the air out of the lines at the same time. Topped up the water tanks again. all good.
When the new anode arrives. Q. Will I experience the same blast when replacing the original.
I seems to me that there was a massive air compression within. As for the O ring yet another Q.
I will let the service people know what did happen.
My Anode was eaten away and after this little exercise, I will replace without fail every 12 months.
On replacing the new Anode. I will leave the hot water tank empty, till our next trip.
Is this normal in servicing your Anode.
Regards Jim
I quickly got on Flea Bay and ordered a replacement 19 smacko's.
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Thursday 17th of November 2016 03:26:01 PM
but why no pressure was released when you opened the relief valve I have no idea
yes you should have pressure build up again now and what the o ring is no clue either
brian
Hi all;
Jim, I replaced my anode for my hot water heater in the caravan and it also had been replace about 12 months before hand, what surprise me was the amount of white rubbish that was inside of the water tank. A good flush out with the high pressure gurney and good. Best to keep a spare anode in the caravan, just in case.
Others may differ, but i would keep your water heater tank full, maybe check your anode every 6 months.
Good luck.
-- Edited by valiant81 on Thursday 17th of November 2016 05:02:00 PM
1.. Should have done that before touching the anode.
2.. Not if you open a hot water tap first, see 1...
Hi Jim, similar experience but at least i didnt get messy. Lifted relief valve and opened tap etc. Removed anode....after only 15 months from new and probably only 8 weeks total use. Take a look at the photo to compare old vs new. I didnt have an anode at the time so I replaced the old one but did not refill or use the water system at all for one week. Then after buying a new one I removed the old one and there was a build up of pressure even though there had been no water in the hws or any use of the van and taps for a week. Maybe if you are staying home for more than a few weeks then it may pay to drain the hws!
Hi peter D And everyone,
Peter Are you saying to turn on the hot water on both sink and shower as well, before removing the anode.My water pump was off before undoing. Yes.
Regards Jim
Jim
Price yourself lucky nothing serious happened
You not the first one it happened to, and for sure not the last one
Happens to most people that check them for the first time
Cheers John
You only need to crack one tap open to relieve the pressure. You will still get water coming out when you remove the anode but there should be no great pressure behind it. After all there is water higher up in the cylinder than the anode hole.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for that. When we get the van back, I will replace the anode when it arrives in the mail. IF it does the hissing thing, I will let it hiss a lot longer.
Jim
If you do get drenched in water as I did recently, remove your phone from your wet clothing. I'm the proud owner of a new phone now. Yes I did do all the drying things that Mr. Google suggested.
When I do our (every 6 mths check) I disconnect everything (water) turn off power (you dont way the element coming on when its empty) and release the over pressure valve (open taps if thats what floats your boat).
Anode comes out, water everywhere (wait for it to cool). Then a clean out, same story as you but Im told that normal. Renew or replace anode, open taps, over pressure valve and turn on water till it spurts out of the outlets. Close down taps etc and turn on the electricity/gas.
Happy hunting
I,m very relieved to know that I wasn't the only one that "wore it" the first time changing anode hey. Btw ...that bloody white stuff don't taste too good either.....but I got a handle on doing the damn things now ....so all is good.
Cheers Keith
If you are traveling in WA, check the anode, water kills them over here. Lot of people get water inside van when they change the anode
Just what I was thinking Jeff! I replaced my first anode after 6 months. It had necked (not down to the carrier rod for only 15mm from the securing nut and was unused to the end so I thought I will leave it for 12 months in future. Must be water as I keep my tank full also?!?!