• a .84-inch-diameter (a quarter more anode than what usually comes with a 6-year-warranty water heater) segmented magnesium combination (also known as outlet) anode rod (about 12 inches of overhead clearance needed)


• pipe-thread seal tape


• service sticker


• instructions

This kind of anode screws into the hot-water port and can either replace another combo rod or augment a hex-head anode. Fits all residential water heaters with 3/4-inch plumbing.

Pipe wrench. For further details, check out the Tools page and Know-How.

A Warning

If you buy one of these, don't play with it. These are regular anodes that have been milled down to the core wire on a lathe. That wire can be bent and straightened about three times, then it snaps.

Merchandise in original condition can usually be returned for a full refund of the purchase price, not including shipping. E-mail mail@waterheaterrescue.com for instructions and authorization.

The products offered here are designed to make water heaters last longer, or solve specific problems. Installation is potentially do-it-yourself, but if you have the least doubt about your abilities, we suggest that you obtain expert help.

Prices include ground shipping by UPS within the contiguous United States. UPS does not deliver to post boxes. Allow 2-3 weeks for shipping, but we usually ship within 24 hours. Hawaii and Alaska are only served by Second Day Air or Priority Mail. People in those states should e-mail to learn shipping costs. We do not ship outside the United States.

1. If you contemplate adding an anode to a new tank, things have gotten complicated recently. The combo anode will not work in heaters made in 2005 or later by Rheem/Ruud/Richmond/GE. Also, if there are two anodes in a tank, they need to be of the same metal. Otherwise, the magnesium rod will be consumed more rapidly in the presence of an aluminum one and you won't get as long a life. On the other hand, if the tank is five years old or more, having dissimilar metals is less of an issue, since the original one will likely be largely consumed. All the lower-end heaters by A.O. Smith, American, State, Kenmore, Whirlpool and Maytag have aluminum anodes. We've thought about stocking aluminum combo rods, but we've preached against aluminum for 15 years and won't change now just to make a buck. You still have the option of removing the aluminum hex anode that comes with the tank and installing two magnesium anodes. A plus is that ours are thicker than factory ones.

Price: $71, shipping included. California residents add $5.86.