Aluminum Vs Magnesium Anode Rod

Water heater anode rods.

Aluminum vs magnesium anode rod.

This can potentially find its way into your taps and cause issues down the. In addition to high tds total disolved solids low ph acidic water and high ph alkaline water or oxygen and dissolved co2 or high levels of salts or sulfates or corrosion related bacteria and electrochemical corrosion will eat away more aggressivley on the anode rod. An anode rod is made up of magnesium or aluminum. Unlike aluminum anode rods dissolved magnesium offers health benefits.

Since the working mechanism is slow this is the reason why it produces low voltage during electrolysis. Anode rod magnesium or aluminum. So you suspect your water heater s current anode rod needs replacing so you re figuring out which type you ought to purchase as a replacement. A magnesium rod will generally last less than an aluminum rod.

An aluminum water heater anode rod is placed into a water heater to prevent corrosion. Let s put on our chemistry hats and explore this a bit further. One issue with aluminium rods is that the corrosive material that is formed on the anode tends to harden and sink to the bottom of the water tank. Both magnesium and aluminum are less noble metals meaning they corrode quickly in water.

To be fair this type of rod is much less expensive when you compare it with the magnesium or any other type of rods. Magnesium rods are more expensive. In the same way that ships use sacrificial rods to protect the metal of the hull an anode rod attracts the corrosion and keep the rust and corroding elements away from the water tank itself. Reaction with water elements can sometimes lead to production of hydrogen sulfide which comes out as a rotten egg smell in the water.

Aluminum vs magnesium our review. Aluminum anode rods are cheaper than magnesium anode rods. Aluminum and magnesium rods. Aluminum anodes tend to be cheaper than magnesium anode rods.