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How often is an anode rod worth inspecting?
Anode rods are meant to wear down before the tank does, but the right inspection interval seems to depend on the heater design and the water going through it. How much do tank lining and local water chemistry change how quickly a rod is consumed?
Would you follow the interval in the manual unless service records or water conditions suggest otherwise, or is there a useful general rule for scheduling an inspection? And if the rod is hard to reach or seized, when is it better to leave the job to a plumber rather than risk damaging the fitting?
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1 reply
I’d use the heater’s manual as the starting point rather than assume one interval fits every tank. If service history or known water conditions give a concrete reason to expect faster wear, I’d consider an earlier inspection; otherwise, changing the schedule based only on a general guess seems hard to justify. If getting the rod out looks risky, I’d weigh that against the benefit of checking sooner and leave difficult access to a plumber.
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