Good point on the softener, I've seen similar results myself.
- Had a client once whose heater was rusting out every few years, and I kept telling him it was water quality. He finally installed a softener—took some convincing—and sure enough, no more rust issues.
- That said, even with good water, those older tanks can still rust eventually. At some point, it's just metal fatigue, especially if the tank's already been through a few flushes or repairs.
- Curious though, anyone here tried anode rod replacements regularly? I've heard mixed things—some say it drastically extends tank life, others think it's overrated. Wondering if that's worth adding to the maintenance routine or if it's just another headache...
"Curious though, anyone here tried anode rod replacements regularly? I've heard mixed things—some say it drastically extends tank life, others think it's overrated."
I've swapped out anode rods a few times on my rental properties, and honestly, results have been pretty mixed. One tank lasted noticeably longer, but another rusted out anyway after just a couple extra years. Maybe it depends on the water chemistry or something else entirely... Has anyone noticed if certain rod materials (aluminum vs magnesium) make a real difference?
I've noticed aluminum rods tend to last longer in hard water areas, probably because magnesium reacts more aggressively. But magnesium rods seem better at handling odors and bacteria. Definitely agree water chemistry plays a big role—it's not always predictable...
Yeah, totally agree water chemistry can be tricky. I've had aluminum rods last longer too, but honestly, the magnesium ones made a noticeable difference with that funky sulfur smell we used to get. I switched back and forth a couple times, trying to balance longevity and odor control... ended up sticking with magnesium and adding a simple inline filter. Seems to be working so far, fingers crossed. Hard water definitely keeps things interesting, doesn't it?
I've seen similar results with magnesium rods as well—especially in areas with high sulfate content. Had a customer once who was dealing with persistent sulfur odor, and we initially swapped to aluminum, which lasted longer but didn't fully resolve the smell issue. Eventually, we went back to magnesium and installed a catalytic carbon filter upstream. That combo seemed to strike a good balance between rod lifespan and odor control. Water chemistry is definitely a puzzle sometimes... trial and error is just part of the job.
