Did you know that some water heaters will die years prematurely for lack of a $15 part? It's true!

Water heaters made by the Suburban Manufacturing Company use steel tanks. Water rusts steel tanks. To prevent the rusting, an anode rod is inserted into the tank. The anode rod is made of a material that is more "rustable" than the steel walls of the tank. Hence, the rusting action of the water eats the anode, not the tank. However, once the anode is eaten, the water starts oxidizing the tank. To prevent the tank rusting you must periodically remove and inspect the anode rod. If it's more than 75% rusted, you must replace it. The rod costs about $15 and it's easy to replace.

Here's how you replace it:

• Unplug your shore cord (in case you have an electric heating element in your water heater)

• Turn off the water supply (city water or water pump)

• Open a faucet to bleed down the water pressure in the plumbing

• Use a 1-1/16" socket and remove the anode rod. The anode looks like a 1-1/16" metal bolt located near the bottom of the water heater when viewed from outside the RV, with the water heater cover open

• The rod is about 9" long and (when new) is almost the same diameter as the threaded section of the "bolt" end

• If the anode rod is 75% eaten away, replace it with a new one

• Wrap Teflon tape on the threads of the new rod and screw it into the threaded hole that the original rod was in

• Turn on the water supply (city water or water pump)

• Open a hot water faucet while the water heater tank is filling with water. This will bleed the air from the tank. When no more air is coming out the hot faucet, close it and check for leaks around the new anode. Tighten if leaking.

• Plug in the shore cord if you previously unplugged it.