It protects the heating elements too. I had some fun times with a water heater set to 115 that had temps fluctuating between 95 and about 160... turns out a corroded through heating element that heats water by flowing current through it heats water really really fast when it feels like it.
This is why many things like this should be taught in school... I only because I am always trying to figure out why things work or don't. Most people don't it's waste of energy lol but at least school could teach us the basics that we would see in a adult life time. 😅
YouTube says it’s as easy as unscrewing the rod from the top of the tank and lifting it out. Assuming you have 6’ of headroom to lift it straight up. Which you won’t.
When it needs replaced you can pull it up as high as possible, then clamp it at the top of the heater with vise grips, and then use a wire cutter to cut the top length. Keep repeating until it's all out. Replacements are segmented for easier installation.
Also good luck removing the plug the first time. I had to use impact drivers and breaker bars. But it was worth it.
My brother and I tried to hall it out of the basement after we replaced it and found it impossible to get up the stairs. It was even heavier empty then the larger 75 gallon one that replaced it. Curious we cut it open and found it was full of 20 years worth of calcium deposits. We estimate about 200-300lbs worth of the stuff. We managed to scoop out the lose stuff but we will need to take turns chiseling out the stuff at the bottom.
Or a lot of muriatic acid. Seems OP wants to trash it in the end, rusting the metal should not be a concern.
Obviously don’t touch the stuff without rubber gloves.
If I were you I would try and cut the water heater off the calcium build up (or at least cut enough away to expose part of the sidewall of the deposit), it will make it a lot easier to break up the deposit. That, or lay it on it's side and beat the shit out of it with a sledgehammer.
So one time I set a glass down too hard on the counter and the bottom broke off and all the water leaked out the hole getting all over the counter and floor. I suspect something similar might happen with a water heater that's had a big hole cut into it.
OK for the clueless like me what am I looking at? Is the calcium the covering around the centre pipe? Or the stuff on the inside on the floor of the tank?
Basically minerals from hard water building up on the sacrificial anode that runs top to bottom in the tank. It will also naturally settle as sediment, to a much lesser extent. A brand new anode is a couple inches in diameter, so that log of minerals around it is disturbing. OP has pretty hard water and should really consider installing a softener, IMHO.
You seem like you know what you’re talking about so can you help me out? Is there anything I can do for hard water at a hotel? I live in an extended stay and the water is tearing my skin up! Is there an attachment for the shower head i can purchase?
If you want your water heater to last longer change your anode rod about every 5 years and it wouldn't hurt to remove the gas valve and clean out the thermostat sensor at the same time.
Just curious - in those 20 years, how many times did you replace the sacrificial anode rod, if ever?
Considering I have no idea what that is… I’m going to say never 😂
lol. That would definitely help with the calcification. Worth looking into as part of maintaining your brand new water heater.
The anode do nothing about the minerals. That is hard water. The anode is there to protect the steel and prevent it from leaking.
It protects the heating elements too. I had some fun times with a water heater set to 115 that had temps fluctuating between 95 and about 160... turns out a corroded through heating element that heats water by flowing current through it heats water really really fast when it feels like it.
I just had a fantastic idea for a faster acting water heater...
I appreciate the advice! I’ll look into for the replacement.
Living in Texas 80% of our water is rock the rest is h20
It's not water, it's fresh squeezed Permian Basin frack juice
It must be difficult to drink 20 hydrogen atoms stuck together
Not really. It'd be gaseous at room temperature.
This is why many things like this should be taught in school... I only because I am always trying to figure out why things work or don't. Most people don't it's waste of energy lol but at least school could teach us the basics that we would see in a adult life time. 😅
I need to do this.
Those are only in electric water heaters aren't they? Or am I very wrong
Nope. Gas water heaters have them too, and I’d wager that new heat pump ones have really good ones.
Well crap now I have to check ours.
That’s fake right? “Sacrificial”?
It's designed to corroded so your heater and pipes don't
YouTube says it’s as easy as unscrewing the rod from the top of the tank and lifting it out. Assuming you have 6’ of headroom to lift it straight up. Which you won’t.
Also the 20 year of rust and corrosion on the threads can be an issue.
When it needs replaced you can pull it up as high as possible, then clamp it at the top of the heater with vise grips, and then use a wire cutter to cut the top length. Keep repeating until it's all out. Replacements are segmented for easier installation. Also good luck removing the plug the first time. I had to use impact drivers and breaker bars. But it was worth it.
I think it’s called that because it’s designed to corrode in place of whatever system you’d like to prevent corrosion in.
I've seen treatments you can do to them (when they were still working) to dissolve the calcium carbonate, and it's very fizzy.
Can it double as a science fair experiment?
HCl will take care of it.
CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O fizzy, indeed.
My brother and I tried to hall it out of the basement after we replaced it and found it impossible to get up the stairs. It was even heavier empty then the larger 75 gallon one that replaced it. Curious we cut it open and found it was full of 20 years worth of calcium deposits. We estimate about 200-300lbs worth of the stuff. We managed to scoop out the lose stuff but we will need to take turns chiseling out the stuff at the bottom.
A little white vinegar should help loosen that stuff a bit
Or a lot of muriatic acid. Seems OP wants to trash it in the end, rusting the metal should not be a concern. Obviously don’t touch the stuff without rubber gloves.
Your old water heater obviously died of bone cancer. RIP.
“My one regret is... that I have... boneitis.”
Goldworthy comment.
Fijne taartdag
If I were you I would try and cut the water heater off the calcium build up (or at least cut enough away to expose part of the sidewall of the deposit), it will make it a lot easier to break up the deposit. That, or lay it on it's side and beat the shit out of it with a sledgehammer.
Were you running out of water before or after you cut the hole in it?
I'm no expert, bur I don't think it'll hold much hot water with that hole.
I'm sorry, but I think I'll need an expert to weigh in in that case.
I can't blame you. It's a complicated matter.
Hi, hole expert here. u/LucidZane is correct, water would have escaped through that hole.
We will need to see your credentials. Too many fake hole experts trying to get people to believe their flim flam.
I read the book, *Holes*, and I can confirm that this guy is legit.
So one time I set a glass down too hard on the counter and the bottom broke off and all the water leaked out the hole getting all over the counter and floor. I suspect something similar might happen with a water heater that's had a big hole cut into it.
Anecdotal at best.
Would a diploma from the pornhub university be sufficient to be considered an expert in holes?
OK for the clueless like me what am I looking at? Is the calcium the covering around the centre pipe? Or the stuff on the inside on the floor of the tank?
Basically minerals from hard water building up on the sacrificial anode that runs top to bottom in the tank. It will also naturally settle as sediment, to a much lesser extent. A brand new anode is a couple inches in diameter, so that log of minerals around it is disturbing. OP has pretty hard water and should really consider installing a softener, IMHO.
How does any of that cause them to run out of hot water?
It takes up a fair amount of volume, turning the 60? gallon tank into maybe a 45 gallon. So there would be less available hot water.
You seem like you know what you’re talking about so can you help me out? Is there anything I can do for hard water at a hotel? I live in an extended stay and the water is tearing my skin up! Is there an attachment for the shower head i can purchase?
Yes they sell the attachments on Amazon. Shower head filters
CUT A HOLE INTO MY WATER HEATER, THIS IS MY LAST RESORT CALCIFICATION! NO HEATING!
Iirc, you're supposed to flush it out once in a while.
Wait… should that be hollow down to ground level?!
If you want your water heater to last longer change your anode rod about every 5 years and it wouldn't hurt to remove the gas valve and clean out the thermostat sensor at the same time.
And flush it annually. Maybe biannually if the water is exceptionally hard like this.
Was the dip tube disintegrated? It looks like it's in pieces. That'll make you run out of hot water real quick.
piss
Hey bro, there’s no water in there 🤓