chris
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 3
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Post by chris on Oct 4, 2020 15:15:39 GMT -5
I had to replace my anode the first year because the dealer didn’t use the bypass valves and put antifreeze in the hot water heater. Now this year I pulled it and it’s ready to fall off the nut. In all my campers I have owned I have never had one eaten away as much as this one in my Sonic. Any suggestions?
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Jim
Seasonal RV’er
Ready to Camp!
Posts: 210
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Post by Jim on Oct 5, 2020 11:38:44 GMT -5
Sounds like the antifreeze might have been hot water really bad for the anode. It probably started to soften the sacrificial material and killed the lifespan of it. If that happened to us , my DW would have screamed bloody murder at the dealer and had them step up for a new one. Just as an aside, we winterize ourselves ,that way when I drain the tank . I can check the anode condition.
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chris
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 3
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Post by chris on Oct 5, 2020 20:10:22 GMT -5
Yes the first year it was because of the antifreeze but this year was just regular use. I was told well water could be the reason for it wearing away so quickly. With all my other rv’s I at least got a few years with each anode.
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Jim
Seasonal RV’er
Ready to Camp!
Posts: 210
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Post by Jim on Oct 6, 2020 8:18:57 GMT -5
Chris, I think the antifreeze was the culprit here for sure. Well water might be a contributor to the deal ,but you will know after a good anode is installed. one tip I learned was that when the anode is out is to either run you finger inside and see if you feel any sediment or something flexible to detect any. I had sediment buildup before and modified a vacuum attachment to my shop vac and got out as much as I could. Good luck and hope it gets better for you .
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Nov 27, 2020 6:38:31 GMT -5
When the prior owner showed me how to WINTERIZE the SONIC 190VRB, he pulled the anode out and it looked pretty ragged. About 3/8" in diameter and cratered pretty good. After putting in the RV fluid, he stuck the badly used anode back in. "Its lasted almost 4yrs!" he claimed.
I purchased two new anodes from AMAZON along with 3/4NPT plastic plugs. When we open for the spring, I am going to flush the hot water tank and install the new anode. The difference between the new and old is incredible. So much so, that I thought I had purchased the wrong size. (I didn't) My plan is to flush the system, put in the new anode and when winterizing comes around again, I will not stick the anode back in the tank with the RV fluid, but use the 3/4NPT plastic plug instead. (This way the anode is not sitting in RV fluid all winter)
Just a quick note, RV fluid is just water, glycol, a small amount of alcohol and some colorant to make it pink. UNLESS ELECTRICAL POWER OR GAS HEATER is turned on, there should be no reaction with the magnesium of the anode. On the other hand, the process of heating country, city or well water will cause some shedding of the coatings. If the water is untreated or from certain regions (Like mid-Missouri) it can have an incredible amount of calcium along with it. During the heat/cool/heat cycle the calcium can coat to the anode and during the next heat cycle cause small amounts of the anode coating to break and chip away. This is a common electro/chemical process and thats why anodes don't last for ever.
Recommendations for making your anode last longer, would be to use the plastic plug during the winter, making sure you clean off the anode whenever its not in the tank and store in a very dry and protected space. If cracks develop in the body of the heater then thats were other things like calcium and hard minerals will accumulate and cause faster degredation.
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3rdof5
Weekender RV’er
Finally camping season!
Posts: 55
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Post by 3rdof5 on Jan 22, 2021 16:37:54 GMT -5
I was told that RV antifreeze damaged anodes but I can't confirm that. I've always had a bypass on mine and always removed the anode when winterizing and just left it out over winter. My last camper was a 2005 KZ coyote 23CT and in 15 years I replaced the anode 3 times. Never had an issue with that hot water heater.
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Jan 24, 2021 14:54:10 GMT -5
I purchased this 3/4" plug at HOME DEPOT for $0.95/ea. Can get the same at any local hardware, True Value, Garden shop, Lowe's. etc.  |
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Jan 24, 2021 15:17:51 GMT -5
FYI...
Standard ANTIFREEZE
a) Ethylene Glycol - Original Yellow/Green antifreeze (alcohol based)
b) Propylene Glycol (OAT) - Permanent PINK antifreeze with Rust Inhibitors
b1) RV & MARINE Propylene Glycol - Same as b) but with a lower % of mix and no rust inhibitors.
c) Propylene Methyl Glycol Ether - Diesel Engines (Some Alcohol)
a&c contain rust inhibitors like silicates and phosphates
DEXCOOL (GM product) was linked to head gasket failures since it was introduced. It contained OAT (Organic Acid Technology) and if mixed with (a) type antifreezes would cause problems with gasket failures throughout the engines.
b1) cannot be used in engines (no lubricity or rust inhibitors) but great for PEX pipe and plastic (CPVC or PVC) piped systems. Marine use is meant for living quarters and not engine in some larger boats/ships. This stuff is not toxic to dogs, but not something you want to put on the ground or let seep into grass.
Depending on the material used in your heater ANODE, just about everything can have a reaction. Simple well water contains enough calcium and sodium to cause a white crust buildup. Iron phosphates in well water create those brown/rust rings on white ceramic.
NOTE: As long as you use a the RV antifreeze, replace your Anode heater with a plastic plug during winter storage and flush your system regularly, you should get a minimum of 5years from an anode based on 50 heat cycles per year. If you use a water filter with charcoal pre-stage you can extend that to about 7years. (Garbage in - Garbage out)
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Post by WrkrBee on Mar 2, 2021 18:56:26 GMT -5
Don't put RV anti-freeze in the water heater, that's why it has by-pass valves. By-pass the water heater, pull the anode, drain the water heater, cut the electric switch off at the tank so no one can destroy the heating element by cutting it on when dry, flush the sediment out of the tank, tape and reinstall the old or a new anode. The rate an anode is used is determined by water quality. I don't know what the water quality is at the many campgrounds we go to, so I don't know which campgrounds destroys the anode. I check it maybe twice a year. My anode looks bad now, but still has some time before it needs to be replaced.
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