Will a Hotrod Heater Cause Metal Corrosion in Atwood Water Heater? What is a Good Replacement?

Question

Question:

2010 Atwood 6 gallon aluminum tank water heater. Will the connection of the hotrod heater cause metal corrosion? The heater appears to be brass connected to aluminum and stainless steel.

asked by: Joe S

0

Expert Reply:

Hello Joe,

Yes, using a Hot Rod electric heater # DGR6VP in a 2010 Atwood 6-gallon water heater causes corrosion. The tank is aluminum, and the Hot Rod typically uses brass or stainless steel, which creates a reaction between the dissimilar metals when water is present. Since Atwood tanks don’t have anode rods to help protect against this, the aluminum can start corroding over time. Using PTFE tape or a non-conductive sealant on the threads helps reduce the risk, and checking the connection regularly.

If you wanted to upgrade your Atwood 6 gallon water heater, the tankless water heaters are making a big splash (pun intended of course)! Check out the Furrion RV Tankless Water Heater - Gas - Automatic Pilot - 60,000 BTU - 16" x 16" Door # FR98SR. I attached a review video for you to check out.

Any big trips coming up? If so, where are you headed?

expert reply by: Kate F

0

Kate F.

9/12/2025

Hey Joe, did you decide to use the Hot Rod heater with your Atwood water heater, or are you considering the tankless option? I'm curious because your experience could help others facing the same decision.

Joe S.

5/26/2026

@KateF Absent of recommendations from Valterra, Diamond group, or atwood, I have installed the heater with the provided anode and brass fitting with PTFE tape. I have exterior corrosion on the tank around the fitting, not sure if I have interior corrosion. I do not have corrosion of the aluminum in other areas. I have also had a run of bad luck with the hottrod leaking water internally and tripping my gfci. It is hard to say whether the corrosion is from the dissimilar metals or from stray electrical currents. I cannot say I recommend the combination at this time.

Kate F.

5/27/2026

@JoeS I really appreciate you coming back and sharing your experience with this setup. It sounds like you did everything you could on the install side with the PTFE tape and brass fitting, so I can understand why the corrosion and leaking would be frustrating. You also make a really good point about stray electrical currents possibly playing a role. Since the Atwood aluminum tanks don’t use an anode rod, it can make it harder to tell whether the corrosion is from electrolysis, dissimilar metals, or something else in the system. Your feedback is honestly super helpful because there’s not much guidance out there from Atwood or Valterra on long-term use of the Hot Rod kits in these tanks. Real-world experiences like yours can really help other RV owners decide whether they want to go this route or consider replacing the water heater instead. Thanks again for taking the time to follow up, Joe.

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Will a Hotrod Heater Cause Metal Corrosion in Atwood Water Heater? What is a Good Replacement?

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