ANODE ROD INSTALLATION
Purpose of an anode rod
Anode rods have been used in hot water tanks for years. People realized long ago that when metal and water are constantly in contact, galvanic corrosion of the metal occurs. So they developed a “sacrificial anode rod” made out of different metals than the tank. That rod then neutralizes the stray electrons that normally attack the steel water tank. The rod sacrifices itself, and slowly corrodes instead of having the tank rot away. It’s a well proven and simple technology, so we recommend using one in our stoves as well. Very inexpensive for the protection that it adds.
Type of rod to use and its lifespan
We also recommend using a chemical water treatment in our stoves. However, the very chemicals in that product can cause the wrong type of anode rod to corrode quickly, and possibly clog the system. Therefore, you must use ONLY a magnesium anode rod! They are available at hardware stores and home improvement centers. For example, Menards sells a 44″ magnesium rod for about $20. A 44″ rod is what we recommend.
Our friends at SupplyHouse.com also sell the magnesium rods.
In a water heater tank, the expected lifespan of a magnesium anode rod is from two to five years. However, because the water quality and the operating season of an outdoor boiler varies from customer to customer, we recommend that when you drain and flush the water tank once a year, take a minute to remove and check the anode rod as well. If it has corroded too much, replace it.
Installing the anode rod
The anode rod is installed into the drain port on the back and at the bottom of the stove. Since you drain the water through there at the end of the heating system, it makes sense to also have the anode rod there to be checked as well. Use a tee fitting so that a shutoff valve drain can be installed on the bottom, and the anode rod can be inserted straight through into the stove’s water tank.
Because anode rods have a 3/4 inch thread, you will need to add a reducer fitting to the 1″ tee.
Remember to use pipe sealant on all of the fittings. The anode rod is simply inserted into the 3/4″ fitting and into the stove, and then tightened down.
Here is a closer view of the completed connection. The added benefit of checking the anode rod every year for wear is that it gives those fittings less time to rust and become hard to remove.
If you find that the anode rod hasn’t corroded much after the first year, keep checking each year after that. But don’t get sad if it seems to have corroded greatly. Every bit of corrosion on that sacrificial anode rod means less corrosion for the stove’s water jacket. That’s what we are aiming for.