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Residential Plumbing + Get AlertsWe live in a society that increasingly understands the environmental issues we face, so we are trying to find various solutions to reduce our consumption of short-lived goods. However, over-consumption is present in all sectors and programmed obsolescence seems to be more and more widespread.
When I first started working in the plumbing industry, it only took me a few minutes to understand how huge this sector is. For example, each year, more than 8 million hot water tanks are changed, and that's only in the United States. Why isn't anyone talking about it? Simply because we don't see it and some manufacturers say it's impossible to make the tanks last longer. However, there is a way to significantly extend the life of your water heater.
Cathodic protection (sacrificial anode)
To begin with, it is important to know that a tank is equipped with sacrificial cathodic protection (magnesium anode). This protection usually lasts only a few years and must be replaced, because once it is completely consumed, the water heater will start to rust. Manufacturers often require that this anode be inspected annually and replaced if necessary.
Long-term solution (impressed current anode)
You probably didn't know it, but there is a long-term solution (and it doesn't require any maintenance) — CORRO-PROTEC impressed current anodes. Although impressed current cathodic protection has been used for several years in various environments, it is not well known (for example, these systems are frequently used to protect gas lines).
Unlike sacrificial anodes, impressed current anodes do not sacrifice themselves to protect the water heater; they are much more compact and easier to install. The CORRO-PROTEC impressed current anode is made of an insoluble titanium alloy that receives a low current electronically regulated by a rectifier. The immunity of the steel walls of the tank is ensured by the current supplied by the anode. This current allows the steel tank of the water heater to be polarized, protecting it from corrosion.
In addition to completely stopping corrosion inside the tank, the CORRO-PROTEC anode is known to remove sulphur odors in less than 24 hours and reduce scale accumulation in the tank. With a 20-year warranty and an installation that takes only a few minutes, the CORRO-PROTEC anode has been adopted in more than 40,000 homes across North America.
For more information on impressed current anodes visit: www.corroprotec.com.