Water heater anode

Angelaokos · Apr 26, 2023

I would like to replace my water heater anode but I can not find its location. I have a top mounted t&p where my anode typically goes. Where is the anode located on top mount t&p water heaters?

I have a 55 gallon
State select electric water heater
Serial # ES652DORTGW
I have posted a few pictures

Twowaxhack · Apr 26, 2023

how old is the heater ? Looks old, I’d leave it alone.

Anode might be built into the hot water outlet.

I advise you to leave it all alone.

sarg · Apr 26, 2023

Good advice from TWH. I don't have any experience with the Hot nipple with anode attached ... but I have read they are an absolute bear to break free .... there's just the round nipple to grab onto and they are easily "crushed" with a pipewrench. A large carriage bolt is inserted with a diameter matching the nipple inside dimension to "attempt" preventing the crushing of the nipple.

Bird Doo Head · Apr 27, 2023

If the anode is bad, the tank will eventually leak. If you try to change the anode & something breaks, the tank will leak. It's a hard decision. Maybe attempt the anode change when time and money allow a heater replacement in case things go wrong.

The paperwork that is seen hanging on the side of the heater in Photo 3 most likely verifies where the anode is located.

Ludington · Apr 27, 2023

I would just buy a heat pump hot water heater, once the rebates get put in place.. up to 1750 in rebates. Depends on your income though....

pasadena_commut · May 4, 2023

The circled item in the first picture is the pressure release valve.

Support site:

https://www.statewaterheaters.com/support/es6-52-dort/
This is supposedly the manual:

https://www.statewaterheaters.com/lit/im/res-elec/184671-000.pdf
However it is useless for finding the anode. Maybe it is under the top cover (if that comes off). Call the company with the model number in hand (ES6-52-DORT) and ask them how to change the anode.

There must be some sort of nut even if the anode is mounted on the hot water outlet. It might need a very thin and very deep socket to reach it though.

For whatever it is worth, removing a regular anode required an impact wrench on our bog standard gas water heater. I kept going to bigger wrenches and even a breaker bar and it reached the point where the whole tank was turning and the anode was still in there tight.