Where to buy dirt cheap anode rods

[Master Plumber Mark]

we are having fits with our Rheem and Bradford white heaters not lasting
the full warranties right now and I am not sure yet if the water company has
changed the chemical composition of the water or what exactly is going on...
Maybe perhaps they are just making them cheaper or they are just COVID
heaters made in 2020-2023... and the quality control went to hell.....

I am installing the thermal expansin tanks and dielectirc flex lines to each heater
but it appears that many are going out on me at around 5 years recently.

I am considering to start installing an extra anode rod on the Rheem heaters I
install in the hopes of it extending the life well past 6 years on these heaters.....
but I need to find a supply house that will sell them in bulk and dirt cheap.

I am needing to find a magniesum anode rod with a 3/4 nipple on it that will fit into
the hot outlet line of a Rheem water heater ......

rheem does make a 4 year extension kit for their heaters but they run
around 125 each and I am looking for something dirt cheap that will
do the job..... I was not going to gamble on a 10 year tank extension
when I am having them dieing on me at 5 years presently...

does anyone know of a place that sells this product for a low, low price??

thank you
..

 

[Fitter30]

Here's a company that sell in bulk

Hex Plug 44 " Magnesium Anode , Flexible Anode Rods For Water Heaters

High quality Hex Plug 44 " Magnesium Anode , Flexible Anode Rods For Water Heaters from China, China's leading mg anode product, with strict quality control magnesium sacrificial anode factories, producing high quality magnesium sacrificial anode products.

www.cathodicprotection-anodes.com

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Breplum]

HD offers them, I buy the flex type at $28. a bargain. https://www.homedepot.com/p/EASTMAN...-Rod-with-3-in-Nipple-Fitting-60286/318554094

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

HD offers them, I buy the flex type at $28. a bargain. https://www.homedepot.com/p/EASTMAN...-Rod-with-3-in-Nipple-Fitting-60286/318554094

Wow...
Thank you for the information..... that one will do just fine for $28 bucks....

I dont think I can beat that price and it should help these heaters last more than the 6 year warranty

thanks for saving me time

 

[Breplum]

When you remove 5 year old anodes what do you see. I pulled one at my home at 5 years and found a lot of whitish mineral build-up but, not an ounce of diminished rod to be seen. Solid as the day it was born.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

When you remove 5 year old anodes what do you see. I pulled one at my home at 5 years and found a lot of whitish mineral build-up but, not an ounce of diminished rod to be seen. Solid as the day it was born.

Its nearly impossible to remove the anode rod from a Rheem water heater... its a plug type rod that
is installed with an impact wrench and rarely will it come out.....

I have seen some pretty crappy rods come out of some heaters..... it all depends on a few factors
like water quality, and the grounding of the home electrical system and how it affects the water
heater if the home is not grounded properly--
We also get a lot of heaters that the water softener actually
kills in a short while due to the sodium in the water...

I talked with a Rheem rep today and they just want me to buy the 4 year upgrade
kit they sell and just charge the customer more money for the upgrade to the 10 year tank .....
This can be done easily , but I am not even sure that the upgrade will help it last 10 years or not at this point...

I went and bought 10 of these that you showed me from off amazon....

I am going to beef up the heater whether Rheem likes it or not....for 28 bucks
and of course mention this upgrade to the customer.... if he wishes to have the
rod changed in 5 years or so..

I am interested to see if this actually becomes a positive selling
point when trying to sell a heater to a new customer