Reinstalling a Water Heater Anode Rod

The water heater onboard your RV is likely either a Suburban or an Atwood; the one on our demo vehicle is a Suburban that we’ve had some trouble with. The problem stems from a previous owner replacing the water heater’s anode rod with a shutoff valve. This is an issue because Suburban water heaters utilize magnesium anode rods to essentially soak up the hard metals that are found in water at a lot of campgrounds.

As explained by RV maintenance and repair expert Dave Solberg, removing the anode rod from an RV water heater is going to cause the tank to deteriorate over time. In order to get this tank back in good shape, Dave demonstrates the best way to clean out the water heater system, cut out the unnecessarily installed shutoff valve, and reinstall a healthy anode rod.

Before reinstalling the anode rod, you’re going to want to clean the tank using a flush wand that attaches to a garden hose. Pressurized water expels all of the sediment and rust that has built up as a result of the missing anode rod. Once cleaned, Dave shows you how to mount the new rod with proper sealing to prevent rust. And just like that, your RV’s water heater system is better set up for long-term success!