Rheem Water Heater Anode Rod Guide
Understanding the importance of anode rods is the commencement step to taking tending of your water heater. The side by side step would be fully agreement the sizes, types, too locations of anode rods for your specific H2O heater.
If you lot own a Rheem water heater, here is everything yous ask to know nigh your anode rod.

Rheem H2O heaters are designed to run amongst all anode rod types. They arrange to the average sizes of anode rods available (length and diameter). Thus, generic rods tin be used circumspectly. Replacement is relatively tardily. Rods are cheap and available online too in hardware stores.
What Type of Anode Rod Does Rheem Use?
Rheem H2O heaters do not purpose i type of anode rod. Instead, as is the case alongside near water heater manufacturers, they blueprint their products to be used alongside whatever anode rod best suits the quality of H2O supplied to your home.
The chief factors of water quality that come into play with anode rods are:
- Mineral content, ane.e., hardness.
- Excess ions that result from artificial softening.
- Sulfate-reducing bacteria.
There are 2 chief types of anode rods: powered and sacrificial. There are three primary kinds of sacrificial rods: aluminum, magnesium, in addition to zinc alloy (alloyed with aluminum). Rheem water heaters readily purpose whatsoever of these rods.

The reason why there is so much liberty inward the type of rods you lot tin function is that all anode rods are metallic sticks that screw into the H2O heater.
As long every bit the hole into which they screw is the standard size (with Rheem H2O heaters, they always are), and so virtually any rod yous purchase volition live able to live used inward your H2O heater.
Because choosing the best anode rod for your Rheem water heater comes downwards to the quality of your H2O, y'all can take a expect at these articles to assist you lot choose the best 1:
- Aluminum vs Magnesium sacrificial anode rods.
- Powered anodes vs Aluminum anodes.
- Powered anodes vs Magnesium anodes.
- Anode rods for smelly water (zinc alloys).
- Anode rods for artificially softened water (magnesium or powered).
Rheem Water Heater Anode Rod Size
Rheem H2O heaters are compatible amongst a big reach of anode rod sizes.
The range of lengths includes anode rods that are 8 as well as one/8″ long to anode rods that are 58 too iii/16″ long.
Although in that location is a large reach inward lengths, the average length, in general together with for Rheem H2O heaters in detail, is 42″ to 44 in addition to 3/viii″.
The diameters that are compatible alongside the Rheem water heater include 0.five″ to 0.9″.
As far equally the average diameter of an anode rod in a Rheem water heater, the nearly mutual diameter seems to be the 0.840″ one.

Where Is the Anode Rod in a Rheem Water Heater?
For almost Rheem H2O heaters, the anode rod volition live located at the elevation of the tank. It is likely that they volition live placed inwards the middle of the acme of the tank nether a hexagonal caput amongst a plastic comprehend.
For more than specific information on the place of the anode rod inwards your Rheem H2O heater, it is wise to consult your specific water heater’s user manual.
Some H2O heaters come amongst ii anode rod insert points. However, unless you lot are utilizing a professional person-form model, it is more probable that your Rheem water heater volition take only ane place for an anode rod rather than two.
The moment anode rod port, if it is included inwards your Rheem water heater, is likely to be virtually the master anode rod port amongst the same hexagonal caput amongst a plastic comprehend.
Electric together with gas H2O heaters are powered differently, so they are fix differently. However, as far every bit the placement of anode rods goes, electric together with gas Rheem H2O heaters volition likely exclusively differ by a few inches along the peak of the tank.
Replacing a Rheem Water Heater Anode Rod
Cost of the Replacement
Depending on the type of anode rod you are utilizing, the cost of replacing the anode rod inward a Rheem H2O heater volition vary.
- For an aluminum anode rod, the prices reach from $25 too $45.
- For a magnesium anode rod, the prices range from $32 in addition to $75.
- If y'all are using a powered anode rod, the prices are normally betwixt $150 in addition to $190.
The prices will rise fifty-fifty more than if yous were to hire person to replace your anode rod for you lot. Most professionals will accuse betwixt $250 and $300 to supercede an anode rod.

Should You Buy a Generic Rod?
While Rheem-make anode rods are more likely to tally well too run good, they are more than expensive than generic anode rods, which volition still gibe together with role inward your H2O heater.
To salvage coin merely ensure the longevity of your H2O heater, there are a few things to view before but opting for a generic rod.
Firstly, bank check if your H2O heater is still nether warranty too if the warranty is dependent on the role of Rheem-brand anode rods. You don’t want your heating chemical element breaking down alone to find out Rheem is unable to honour the warranty because you lot used a generic rod.
Note: The rod itself volition never take a warranty if it is a sacrificial rod.
Secondly, it is as well of import to make sure the generic anode rod will actually fit your H2O heater. As mentioned, Rheem heaters are designed to tally the average, simply generic rods may be slightly off-size depending on their lineament.
Thirdly, equally with all purchases yous are apprehensive near, it is wise to consult client reviews. The lower price of a generic anode rod may non live worth it if it industrial plant terribly.

Where to Get the New Rods
After you lot accept considered whether you lot would like to purchase a Rheem or cite-make anode rod or a generic anode rod, in that location are enough of options of where you tin buy them.
Most hardware stores acquit a diversity of anode rods. You tin can but popular inwards in addition to expect through their reach. Alternatively, yous tin phone call ahead or check the website if you lot are looking for a particular model. Some hardware stores facilitate online purchases as well as delivery.
Other online stores, like Amazon, tin can too live utilized. Amazon sells just about Rheem-make rods as well as more or less generic rods that are specifically compatible alongside Rheem water heaters.
Rheem SP11524C Magnesium Anode Rod alongside 44-Inch Length together with 0.84-Inch Diameter, Model: SP11524C, Tools & Outdoor Store
- For best results, role solely Rheem replacement parts for repairing your Rheem Water Heater
- Anodic Material: Magnesium, Total Length (inwards.): 44-iii/16, Rod Diameter (inward.): 0.840, Hex Head Size
- Thread Size - NPT (inward.): 3/iv, Resistored: No
- Kits which comprise this office: 45W405
Rheem SP11309C R-Tech Resistor Magnesium Anode Rod with 44-Inch Length as well as 0.7-Inch Diameter
- For best results, function alone Rheem replacement parts for repairing your Rheem Water Heater
- Anodic Material: Magnesium, Total Length (inwards.): 44-three/eight, Rod Diameter (in.): 0.700, Hex Head Size (in.): 1-ane/16
- Thread Size - NPT (in.): iii/4, Resistored: Yes
- Kits which contain this function: 45W363
44" Aluminum Zinc Anode Rod, Eau Get Rid of Rotten Egg Smelling Flexible Water Heater Anode Rod for GE, Rheem, Reliance,Kenmore Water Heater Including one-i/sixteen" Hex Socket Tool as well as Teflon - Upgraded
- GET RID OF ROTTEN EGG SMELL - Aluminum Zinc Alloy sacrificial anode rod made of high-lineament Aluminum Zinc Alloy that is key chemical element for permanently eliminate rotten egg aroma from H2O tank.
- SIZE - Flexible 44 Inch-long anode rod is hinged into iv parts. Each function is less than 12 Inches allowing yous to supplant anode rods easily even inwards a narrow space. Just safely cutting it shorter amongst a...
- ALUMINUM ZINC ANODE ROD KIT - The best pick to extending service life of your H2O heater tank from corroding is replacing H2O rod! This water heater anode rod makes it unproblematic alongside everything y'all...
- FITS - Almost all water heaters including; A.O. smith,Rheem, Reliance, Richmond, Kenmore, State, GE and many more than that as well role the touchstone ¾" NPT Anode Rod Connection.
Last update on 2023-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rheem itself has an online shop amongst diverse products too equally various fitments of anode rods.
Understanding Part Numbers
If yous want to replace your anode rod with another one precisely the same then yous require to know the office issue. Look for this in your H2O heater’sec user manual or pass on the manufacturer a call (if yous know the rod is the master 1 that came amongst the heater).
Part numbers are probable to be composed of about viii to x digits. They will incorporate mostly numbers only too letters to associate them alongside a specific water heater.
The role issue allows yous to locate a function on a given diagram of your appliance as well as too allows yous to wait upwards this specific office and model online if you lot postulate a replacement.
It is likely that your anode rod will have a specific part number that goes alongside it. If y'all would like to buy the exact same anode rod, the office issue will permit you lot to buy it again without having to brand certain the dimensions as well as such are correct.
How to Replace the Anode Rod
Before tackling the project of replacing your anode rod, it is important that you lot have all of the tools needed.
| Item Name | Link to Amazon |
| CRAFTSMAN Deep Socket, 1-i/16-Inch | opinion |
| CRAFTSMAN Ratchet Wrench | persuasion |
| NEIKO 00206A one/two-Inch-Drive Premium Breaker Bar, 24-Inch Length | sentiment |
| Klein Tools Flathead Screwdriver | view |
| Teflon Tape | persuasion |
| Gilmour Pro Commercial Hose | opinion |
| CRAFTSMAN 12-Inch Hacksaw (exclusively necessary if the rod must be shortened) | opinion |
Once y'all are certain that yous take all of the tools required, yous may start the procedure.
- The commencement as well as virtually of import step is to turn off the ability furnish at the circuit breaker if it is an electrical heater or to plow off the gas render if it is a gas H2O heater.
- Next, y'all must close the shut-off valve at the principal H2O render or the cold water inlet. Then, a hot water faucet must be turned on somewhere inwards the house inward lodge to salve the force per unit area inside the water heater tank.
- The H2O must so be drained from the tank alongside the hose. Ensure that the water is not virtually whatever people or pets since the H2O can campaign burns.
- Locate the anode rod at the elevation of the tank. Remove the plastic cap and if the anode rod isn’t visible, take the insulation amongst your flathead screwdriver.
- The anode rod tin then live removed alongside your ratchet wrench. To break the seal on the anode rod, it is likely that yous’ll call for the breaker bar for enough leverage.
- Now the anode rod can live removed.
- Next, twine Teflon record around the threads of the novel anode rod together with reinstall.
- You can like a shot fill your tank together with check that in that location are no leaks around the new anode rod.
These are fairly basic steps. For a more comprehensive guide, the video below describes the process inward item.
The almost of import matter to remember when reinstalling an anode rod yourself is that the power or gas must live shut off in addition to the pressure level should be removed from the tank for prophylactic reasons.
It is as well of import to live certain that the drained water in addition to the onetime anode rod are handled with tending since it is likely that they’ll nonetheless be hot.
Sources
https://parts.rheem.com/dwelling house
https://www.corroprotec.com/weblog/ufaqs/where-is-anode-rod-on-rheem-water-heater/
https://www.alsplumbing.com/H2O-heater-rheem-professional-H2O-heater/
https://www.youtube.com/lookout man?five=wzecqGyCllU



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