Any had experience with removing a very stubborn anode rod? I tried breaker bar with a 4 foot pipe for leverage, oiled with Kroil and finally an impact wrench. The damn thing is so tight the whole water heater moves with 50 gallons in it. 

How old is the water heater?

Sometimes it is better to buy a new one if its too old since the isulation is bettter on the new ones.

PB blaster works great as a penetrant. Home Depot, walmart, should have it. If the anode has not been replaced in many years it can be really difficult to remove.   

It's normally a 2 person change . Replacing the rod is a bit$# to do. One with the 1 1/8" on a breaker bar , one to hold the tank back . Make sure you turn off the cold water supply valve to it or you'll have one hell of a water display going on . Good luck and if all else fails YouTube it .

Thanks for the tips. I Googled it and many suggested an impact wrench. Still stuck. Its about 9 years old with no leaks and is still good. I might change the whol ething in a year or two. I used a 4 foot pipe on a breaker bar, impact wrench and used Kroil. I already have the replacement magnesium rod.

Thanks for the tips. I Googled it and many suggested an impact wrench. Still stuck. Its about 9 years old with no leaks and is still good. I might change the whol ething in a year or two. I used a 4 foot pipe on a breaker bar, impact wrench and used Kroil. I already have the replacement magnesium rod.

With the water conditions being what they are, my guess is that the anode is so badly corroded that it might as well be welded in there. Normal service life of a water heater is 7-10 years, so with your being 9? Replacing the rod is just throwing away money.  Honestly, changing it out would make more sense. So if it's working fine as is, consider leaving it alone (before you break it trying to replace the anode**) and save up for a new more efficient unit.

**Yes I've attempted the same repair for a rental unit and it went like this:  Wrench--->impact wrench--->breaker bar--->sledge hammer....new water heater. 

**Yes I've attempted the same repair for a rental unit and it went like this:  Wrench--->impact wrench--->breaker bar--->sledge hammer....new water heater. 

Sounds right lol , but at 9 years it served its duty already

Thinking about a tankless as it will free up space. Anyone have one? experiences?

Thinking about a tankless as it will free up space. Anyone have one? experiences?

Is your heater now a gas or electric ? The reason I ask is if its electric then you got to deal with hassle of running a gas line for the new tankless system . It might be easier / cheaper to just replace one 4 one . Hope it helps

I went thru the same thing and ended up buying a new one. I was going to go tankless but I heard they have a lot of problems and don't last as long. If you use a lot of hot water they can't keep up.

Thinking about a tankless as it will free up space. Anyone have one? experiences?

Tankless gas or electric?  Also interior or exterior?  Interior gas you may need to run some venting.

Other than that, pretty nice to have hot water with a gas heater when there is no power.

................I've used them when we've had work off island.  Pretty nice.

I use tankless in my home thailand. The electric sucks juice. The gas is cheaper to use. 

Interior closet, electric.
@SpeedTek wow home in Thailand?!

Interior closet, electric.
@SpeedTek wow home in Thailand?!

It was in the big flood too.  Luckily 2 stories. 

^^^Eh we like to 2A GTG at your Thailand home...............

^^^Eh we like to 2A GTG at your Thailand home...............

Guns there is super restrictive......only the rich have guns.

HAHA we could....

.........nice...........