If hidden an easy solution would be to remove the nipple on the hot water side with a pipe wrench and install a nipple outlet anode rod.
Water heater rod connection.
You see over time corrosive agents in your home s water eat up the inside of the water heater.
Your anode rod is a long skinny rod that sits inside the water heater and prevents your tank from corroding.
Metal electrical box on the wall or ceiling nearby run the old wires to the box and then run a new section of armored cable or electrical conduit to the water heater.
Check that the water heater s power and water are turned off.
If the new water heater is shorter and the old wires won t reach surface mount a 4 in.
The only other wire to connect is the wire that goes to the metal case of the water heater where there s a green screw.
Per 10 gals of heater size 4.
Our products are designed with the recommended manufacturer s care and maintenance guidelines of residential and commercial grade hot water tanks because a water heater is a home or business s trusted investment and necessary component.
The water heater is only 5 months old.
Removed the old anode rod.
I poured 3 hydrogen peroxide in the water heater tank.
Installed this new anode rod.
The rod may be under the water heater s sheet metal top or connected to the hot water outlet nipple.
Allow the water to cool then drain the tank to a level that is lower than the t p valve.
If exposed a 1 1 16 6 point socket with long breaker bar will be required to remove it.
Water heater anodes and parts.
Hot water faucet near the tank to remove air from tank while filling.
I drained my water heater 2.
If you have a separate inlet for the anode rod but can t get the old one out or the connections are too corroded to install the new one you can always install the new on the hot water outlet.
It was a horrible mess.
Anode rods hot water heater maintenance tools supplies powered and aluminum zinc anode rods at wholesale direct prices.
But the anode rod is designed to attract all those corrosive agents and sacrifices itself so that your water heater tank doesn t corrode.
Once the water within the tank is below the t p valve unscrew the valve using a pair of channel locks.
Most gas or electric water heaters require a standard rod length of 44.
I believe the center wire on the 3 prong outlet is a neutral wire and i ve read that using neutral for chassis ground is never a good idea.
A few newer plastic lined tanks have no anode rods to replace before you get started close the shutoff valve turn on the hot water at a faucet to relieve pressure and turn off the electricity or gas to the heater.