Water heaters are used almost in every household nowadays and the same also has a role to play in varied industrial settings, but how many of us know about the hidden ingredient in water heaters, which protect the same? The longevity, durability and efficient working conditions depend upon the sacrificial magnesium or aluminum anodes fixed inside it. As a matter of fact, water is highly corrosive and solvent in nature and handful of metals can withstand its caustic effects, given time.
Sacrificial anodes made of aluminum or magnesium are being used since 60 years to protect the inner metallic structures and core steel wire of water heaters from rust and corrosion.
What is Corrosion?
Corrosion occurs when electric currents flow due to the proximity of 2 metals with potential differences. When ions of the metals come in contact with water (which plays the role of electrolyte) corrosion occurs. However, in the process of electrolysis, the less noble metal will always sacrifice itself to protect the more noble metal. In water heaters, magnesium or aluminum rods (which are less noble metals) act as anodes to protect the core steel wire by sacrificing themselves, and hence keep corrosion away from affecting the quality and durability of the unit.
What are anodes and why are they important?
Due to the acerbic effects of water, core metal wire made of steel and other metallic structures inside the water heater tends to face corrosion and rust over a very short period of time. In most cases these internal components used in heaters, boilers or storage tanks are of high value with lesser replacement value. Thus these expensive and complicated metallic elements inside the water heaters are protected against corrosion by magnesium anodes, which surround the metal from outside. In a water heater, anode works as a rod made of either aluminum or magnesium, which is formed around the core steel wire and is attached into the top of the heater with screws.
This anode rod protects the core steel wire from getting corroded and acts as a sacrificial metal rod. Being less noble metal, aluminum and magnesium is more prone to corrosion than other metals and is thus used in the form of aluminum anodes to protect system related to large quantity of stored water.
There are basically 3 different kinds of anodes available in the market, called flexible, rigid and powers anodes. Each of the types is used for different purposes depending upon their applicable properties, benefits and usability for different purposes. Keeping in mind the significance of anodes, it is always advisable to purchase a unit fixed with high-quality anodes which are tested and inspected against corrosion and abrasions.
