Glossary
Water heating
Anode rod
A sacrificial metal rod inside a tank water heater that corrodes on purpose so the tank doesn't. It's the single most important, and most neglected, maintenance part in a water heater.
Why it matters for your home
Once the anode rod is consumed, the tank itself starts rusting from the inside, and rust-colored hot water or a weeping tank base follows. Checking the rod every few years and replacing it when it's spent can add years to a tank's life, cheap insurance against a flooded basement and an emergency replacement.
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