pasadena_commut
Well-Known Member
Took the anode rod out. Its threads are all fine, other than the remaining teflon tape. The threads in the heater were a bit of a mess. There was a blob of teflon tape about 3 threads up from the bottom which was a bear to get out. A toothbrush wouldn't budge it. It was finally scraped out along the threads, gently, with a big canvas sewing needle (the bent kind). The bottom 2 threads in the tank were nothing but rust. Ran the tap in and out, shaking it in a bowl of water in between to dislodge the grit, just until the bottom most tank thread was clean. Did this with about 37 gallons of water still in the tank, so that emptying it would carry out at least some of the rust particles.
The tank was a little odd after it was finally drained. The drain valve did not seem to be jammed - poking around with a long wire did not release anything. But pouring a couple of cups of water in through the anode hole didn't immediately pour out the drain. It took about 30 seconds to start dripping out, although it seems to have all come out in a minute or so and it stopped dripping then. Almost like it was filtering through sand.
Won't know for another 8 hours or so if the thread cleaning fixed the sealing issues from last time, since the tank is currently soaking with 3 gallons of vinegar in it.
The tank was a little odd after it was finally drained. The drain valve did not seem to be jammed - poking around with a long wire did not release anything. But pouring a couple of cups of water in through the anode hole didn't immediately pour out the drain. It took about 30 seconds to start dripping out, although it seems to have all come out in a minute or so and it stopped dripping then. Almost like it was filtering through sand.
Won't know for another 8 hours or so if the thread cleaning fixed the sealing issues from last time, since the tank is currently soaking with 3 gallons of vinegar in it.