Anode rod is stuck in atwood water heater on my
I've run in to quite a few of those the last 2 or 3 seasons, so they sure aren't fun. The odd time I have got real lucky by putting threaded plug back in, and tightening it real tight, then taking it back out and the anode took a bite to plug again and came out. Last few I did, basically had to tap it in slightly, carefully, so as not to let is drop in tank and then not be able to retrieve it. If the wire (like coat hanger size) , is still sticking out where you can get a good grip with a small pair of vise grips, then try that, and try wiggling it slightly as you pull. Last one wouldn't come even then, so I took a small drift punch and tapped wire in center, back toward tank an inch or 2, which left me a hole approx 1/8", so I threaded in a long bigger diameter screw that took a good bite to the soft metal zinc anode, then tried pulling on that as well while wiggling. Still wouldn't come, so I tapped it inward slowly, making sure I still had good grip with vise grips on screw head. Kept going in a little, then pull out a little each time as well. This one actually had to go in until it cleared opening in tank, ( didn't want that, but that was the idea of long screw, so I still had a grip on it.) but I still had hold of screw head attached and it wiggled right back out through hole after that. Most times at worst it would only have to go in about 1/2", then a good pull and some wiggling would get it out, but last one was a close call. Hope this is of some help. If explanation not clear enough, feel free to reply and ask more questions. If /when you get it out, let me know how it goes will ya?
