Does Atwood RV Water Heater Need an Anode Rod

Updated 07/14/2024 | Published 11/10/2018

Question:

I have read that Atwood hot water tanks are made of aluminum and do not need an anode rod installed. Is this true and would adding one anyway harm or help?

asked by: Terry

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Atwood RV water heats like the part # AT96163 that you were looking at do indeed feature an aluminum-clad tank that eliminates the need for an anode rod. Because aluminum doesn't have the same corrosive properties as steel that is used on other brand heaters, adding an anode rod won't provide any benefits over what the factory design already gives you.

expert reply by: Chris R

Pam J.

1/22/2020

Hello we have a atwood hot water tank and the water stinks likes eggs almost makes ya sick from what i read we do not have a anode rod so what would be causing that.

Jason S.

1/22/2020

Water with a sulfur rotten egg smell is by far the most common water odor problem we hear about. This odor is commonly caused by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the water. H2S is a colorless gas that is naturally occurring in water that is stagnant with low oxygen. Often you find this in well water so if you filled your tank with well water that already had a scent and then let it sit in your tank it would get bad. Your solution is to drain and clean your system. I recommend using vinegar to clean and sanitize your water system. You can add a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water directly to your water heater if it has a gravity feed or use a RV Winterizing kit to add it if you don't. Then let the heater warm that mixture and let it sit for 4-5 hours. Then you can either run it through your system at all faucets to clean those lines, or you can drain the water heater tank directly.

Pam J.

1/23/2020

Thank you for your help. is there a way of putting water and vinegar directly into the hot water tank without having to fill up my holding tank. Thanks

Jacob H.

1/23/2020

There really is not way to get water to go through the water heater without going through the tank first. If you are wanting to use vinegar and water as your cleaning solution I would just make up a small amount ( not the whole fresh water tank) and run it through the system. You will want to make sure you give it more than enough time to run to get all of the vinegar out.

Eric B.

10/12/2020

@PamJ Absolutely. Camco and others make a kit, the permanent pump converter winterizing kit, that allows you to draw from a container of antifreeze (or in your case, a solution of water and vinegar) by bypassing the fresh water holding tank. Camco kit number 36543 or others are available

Jon G.

10/12/2020

@EricB Thanks for the comment! You are exactly right. We have the Camco kit as part # CAM36543 on our site as well as other options which I've linked for you to see.

Helpful Links

dept-pg-rv_fresh_water-pt-water_pump_kit.aspx

Steve P.

5/4/2020

Interesting . . typically the rotten egg smell comes with the use of a magnesium anode rode with well water. Aluminum/zinc anode rods can help diminish the odor, though not entirely. I have not yet experienced this odor in my new camper that has an Atwood h/w heater, but have experienced in my old unit that had the anode. They were both parked at same campground that has well water. I had same issue in my home w/well water and found the only way to eliminate the odor was to use an anode rod that was electronic in design by a Canadian company.