Atwood Water Heater

[krackeer]

Quick question on my Atwood water heater. I was reading the documentation that came with the TT and water heater. The pictures show an anode on the backside of the unit. However upon inspection I do not see one, or even some place to place it. The rear of the water heater is insulated with styrofoam so I could not completely see the rear of the unit, but it does appear as though it doesn't have a place to put one. Should it have one, and if so, where?

[RedHorse1]

Our 2 Atwoods did not have an anode. There is a nylon plug near the bottom edge that should be just inside the outside hatch. Some folks have replaced that plug with an anode.
But, it's my understanding that the Atwood does not need one since it's aluminum. The other popular heater is the Suburban which is stainless steel and does require an anode.
JMHO

[TCNashville]

Are you sure that isn't a picture of the electric heating element? It would actually look like one if the pic [diagram] isn't to good. As far as I know, the Atwoods don't need anode rods. On the Atwoods, the electric heating element is installed on the backside [inside of trailer] part of the water heater.

[krackeer]

Originally Posted by TCNASHVILLE

Are you sure that isn't a picture of the electric heating element? It would actually look like one if the pic [diagram] isn't to good. As far as I know, the Atwoods don't need anode rods. On the Atwoods, the electric heating element is installed on the backside [inside of trailer] part of the water heater.

I opened the panel that exposes the backside. The documentation that came with the TT(not the jayco manual, but actual atwood documentation) mentions the anode and the fact it is located on the backside(inside the tt)of the water heater. Thats why I pulled the panel. The water heater is mostly covered with styrofoam. I did not want to damage the foam to take it off so I simply pulled it back and reached my hand up where the diagram said an anode should be installed. There was no place there to install one. I have to somewhat question the atwood documentation in that it also mentioned 2 different kinds of controls for lighting the pilot. Neither of which I had, and also mentioned a temperature setting adjuster, which I could not locate either. As with a lot of documention now a days (jayco included) they cover many models with one set of documents, and constantly mention "if so equipped". I have read here before that atwoods do not use anodes, but I got board while camping earlier this week and started reading. Anyone know anything about a temperature adjustment on one either?
Perhaps the picture is the electric heating element(documentation is stored away with the tt)even so, it is not located where the diagram shows it should be. Anyone with their documentation handy feel free to take a look and chip in.

[reitrof]

From my understanding the older Atwoods were made of steel and required an anode. Newer ones as people stated are aluminium and do not require an anode.

[Ela1948]

A 2012 Jayco would undoubtedly have an aluminum tank and not need a anode rod. Camco sells a rod for the Atwoods but to the best of my knowledge, it is not recommended by Atwood. It goes in the drain hole where you normally have a plastic plug. There are no temperature controls on the Atwood heaters. Any change in water temperature needs to be done with mixture valves.

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by ela1948

a 2012 jayco would undoubtedly have an aluminum tank and not need a anode rod. Camco sells a rod for the atwoods but to the best of my knowledge, it is not recommended by atwood. It goes in the drain hole where you normally have a plastic plug. There are no temperature controls on the atwood heaters. Any change in water temperature needs to be done with mixture valves.

bingo !

[RedHorse1]

The water heater (gas only) in our now gone X23B had a temperature adjustment knob on the gas control box. It was a round disk maybe 3" diameter and was "blue-ish". Our 5th's water heater is gas/electric and is not adjustable.