Mr. Clog Plumbing
Hot Water Anode Replacement Sydney
The anode is the part inside a storage tank that rusts so the tank doesn't. We check it, and replace it before it's used up, to help your hot water tank last.
No surprise bills: $0 call-out and a fixed price before any work starts.
Our guarantee: 12 months on our workmanship, in writing. What it covers
About This Service
Most hot water storage tanks are steel lined with glass enamel, and the lining always has tiny gaps. A sacrificial anode, a metal rod that screws into the top of the tank, protects those gaps by corroding in their place. While the anode lasts, the tank is protected. Once it's used up, the water starts working on the tank itself, and rust through the tank is how most storage tanks end up leaking and needing replacement. Replacing the anode is a much smaller job than replacing the tank, but it only helps while the tank is still sound. We check and replace anodes on gas and electric storage tanks, including Rinnai, Rheem, Dux, Thermann, Vulcan and AquaMAX systems. You get a fixed price before we start, and 12 months on our workmanship.
What’s Included
- Anodes checked on storage tanks
- Worn anodes replaced
- Gas and electric storage systems
- Rinnai, Rheem, Dux, Thermann, Vulcan, AquaMAX
- Tank checked for leaks and rust
- Honest advice when the tank is past saving
- Fixed price quoted before we start
- 12 months on our workmanship
Fixed price quoted before we start. $0 call-out fee.
Ready to book?
(02) 9139 8945 — available 24/7What an Anode Does
It corrodes so the tank doesn't
Water slowly corrodes metal. The anode is made of a metal that corrodes more readily than the tank's steel, so it gives itself up first and protects any exposed steel in the lining.
It gets used up
Over the years the rod wears away. How fast depends on the tank, the water and how much hot water you use, so there's no single date it runs out.
Which tanks have one
Gas and electric storage tanks with an enamel-lined steel tank have one, and so do many solar storage tanks. Continuous flow units don't store water, so they don't have one. Your tank's manual says what it has.
Signs It's Worth Checking
The tank is getting on
If the tank has never had its anode checked and it's several years old, it's worth a look while the tank is still sound.
Discoloured hot water
Rusty or brown water from the hot taps only, not the cold, can mean the tank has started corroding.
A rotten egg smell from the hot water
A sulphur smell from the hot taps can come from a reaction between the water and the anode. If the smell is around the unit or the house rather than in the water, treat it as a possible gas leak: get outside and call Jemena on 131 909 or 000, then a licensed gas fitter.
The manual says so
Many manufacturers recommend inspecting the anode at set intervals. The manual for your tank gives the interval.
When Replacing the Anode Isn't Enough
The tank is already leaking
Water coming from the tank body means it has rusted through. A new anode can't fix that; the tank needs replacing.
Rust coming through the outside
Rust stains on the tank casing, especially near the base, usually mean the damage is done.
We'll tell you plainly
If the tank is past the point where an anode will help, we say so and give you a fixed price for a replacement instead.
How It Works
Our Process
Isolate
Power or gas off, water off, and pressure released from the tank.
Check the anode
Taken out and looked at, to see how much is left.
Replace
A new anode to suit the tank fitted, where it's needed.
Refill and test
Tank refilled, air bled, heating back on, checked for leaks.
Related Pages
Common Questions
FAQs
What is a hot water anode?
A metal rod that screws into the top of a storage tank. It corrodes in place of the tank's steel, protecting the tank from rusting through.
How often should the anode be replaced?
There's no single answer. It depends on the tank, the water and how much hot water you use. Follow the inspection interval in your tank's manual, and have it checked if it has never been looked at.
Does my continuous flow unit have an anode?
No. Continuous flow units heat water as it passes through and don't store it, so they don't have a sacrificial anode.
Can replacing the anode fix a leaking tank?
No. If water is coming from the tank itself, it has already rusted through and needs replacing. Anode replacement helps a tank that is still sound.
Which brands do you replace anodes on?
We service Rinnai, Rheem, Dux, Thermann, Vulcan and AquaMAX hot water systems, gas and electric.
How much does anode replacement cost?
We give you a fixed price before we start, with a $0 call-out fee.
What Sydney Customers Say
We recently used Mr Clog Plumbing for our granny flat in Guildford and couldn't be happier with the service. Everything was handled professionally from start to finish, with great communication and workmanship…
Absolute legend. Turned up on time, sorted the problem quickly and didn’t charge a fortune. Super easy to deal with and cleaned up after the job too. Will definitely be using him again and would happily recomme…
Turned up on time and honest service, couldn’t ask for much more.
Get a Quote for Hot Water Anode Replacement
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