A water heater anode rod uses a process known as electrolysis to remove minerals and sediment from your hot water tank. It does this by attracting potentially harmful particles to stop them from building up inside your water heater. Removing these particles can prevent various water heater issues, such as corrosion, rust and pH balance problems. Anode rods are also referred to as "sacrificial rods" because the minerals in your water supply cause them to corrode over time. The rod itself is usually several feet long and spans the length of your hot water tank to protect the entire interior surface.

Over time, natural minerals in your home's water supply can settle out in the bottom of your water heater tank. That sediment can reduce the heater's efficiency, shorten its life and potentially lead to clogs, so keeping it flushed is smart. Experts recommend that you wash out the sediment approximately once per year. Part of deciding when to do it will depend on how hard your water is and whether you’re connected to a city water supply where sand and grit might work their way in. Draining once per year makes sense, and if you find that there isn't too much sediment when you do the job, you could decrease the maintenance to every other year, or even once every three years.