Had a similar experience a couple years back. Thought I'd save myself some cash by replacing the anode rod instead of shelling out for a new heater. Well, that rod was stuck tighter than a lug nut on an old pickup truck—tried WD-40, breaker bars, even borrowed an impact wrench from my neighbor. Nothing budged it. Finally gave up and called in a pro, who got it loose but charged me nearly as much as a cheap new heater would've cost anyway.
Makes me wonder if there's some trick or preventive maintenance to keep those rods from seizing up so badly? Seems like it'd be less hassle to check it every couple years rather than wait till it's completely fused in there...
Definitely agree, regular checks help a lot. A plumber buddy told me to wrap the threads with Teflon tape or use anti-seize compound when installing a new rod...makes removal way easier down the line. Worth a shot next time.
