The part inside your water heater that is meant to wear out
The sacrificial anode rod corrodes so your tank does not. Checking it during annual service is one of the simplest ways to protect a water heater.
What the rod does
Most tank water heaters have a steel tank lined with glass. The lining is never perfect, and wherever water reaches bare steel, corrosion wants to start. The anode rod is a metal rod that hangs inside the tank and corrodes first, drawing that corrosion away from the tank wall.
Why it matters in hard water
A rod does its job by being used up. Once it is spent, the tank itself starts to corrode, and a tank that is corroding from the inside is on its way to a leak. Hard water and sediment can speed the process up, which is one more reason Inland Empire heaters benefit from regular service.
A rod check costs a few minutes during a flush. A corroded tank costs a whole water heater.
How we check it
During residential annual service we flush the system and do a sacrificial rod check. If the rod is worn, we will show you and explain the options before anything is replaced.
- Flush the sediment out of the tank
- Inspect the anode rod for wear
- Check the connections and relief valve
- Explain what we found before any extra work
Book annual service or call — and ask about the current flush specials when you do.
