silicone grease on anode rod threads? why do they screw it in so tight?

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Pman6

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When I get a new WH, I want to grease the anode rod thread so I can remove it more easily in the future.

Any issue with a little teflon and silicone grease together?

I keep reading about how bodybuilder plumbers can't even remove the anode rod from the tank.
Does it even need to be so tight?
 

Weekend Handyman

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When I get a new WH, I want to grease the anode rod thread so I can remove it more easily in the future.

Any issue with a little teflon and silicone grease together?

I keep reading about how bodybuilder plumbers can't even remove the anode rod from the tank.
Does it even need to be so tight?
I am not a plumber. I believe adding Teflon tape would be what you would normally apply. It believe the reason you can not get them of later is the threads fuse together due to corrosion.
 

Chefwong

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The last anode change was on a circa 5 year old install. It zipped right off (broke it loose) with 1 second trigger on the impact and just hand unscrewed once broke free. But everything is pretty dang tight from the factory.

Replacing the plastic drain with a metal one on this recent nee WH install....requires a vise grip style plier to grab the very short nipple tight to remove. It's as if it's it's got thread locker on it....it's torque down do tight, you would be concerned the plastic was overtorqued to the point of cracking.

However, if one has an impact on hand, I don't see a need to pre-lube on new install but ymmv....
 
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Cliffyk

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When I get a new WH, I want to grease the anode rod thread so I can remove it more easily in the future.

Any issue with a little teflon and silicone grease together?

I keep reading about how bodybuilder plumbers can't even remove the anode rod from the tank.
Does it even need to be so tight?
My 10¢ worth--I would not use Teflon tape as it could potentially (no pun intended) interfere with the relatively minute electron flow by insulating the rod cap from the tank--a paste with a reasonably tight fit-up would like have better metal-to-metal contact while still preventing corrosion from "fusing" the joint...

I generally use TFE paste/sealant alone on metal pipe. I would not use both...
 

Reach4

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The WHs come with the anode needlessly tight. I suspect 10 to 15 ft-lb torque would be enough, and they use maybe 5 to 10x that.

Silicone grease with PTFE tape? Not sure. I expect it would work well. Pipe dope + PTFE tape would be more usual.
 

Myhouse

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A few years ago when I checked the anodes on my indirect water heater tank, I put one wrap of Teflon tape on the threads when I reinstalled them. After checking it with a meter, I had continuity between the head of the anode rod and the tank body. I also thought of using aluminum- or copper-based anti-seize paste for the conductivity issue, but that doesn't appear to be an issue even with the Teflon tape.
 
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