Blue Lightning Magnesium Flexible Anode Rod, Nipple Fitting, 44"

Use teflon tape for install for ease of replacement 6-12 years down the road (time span depends on doing a 2nd anode at same time).Most tanks have a lip under the threads on the port that is tad smaller than 7/8's for this to fit in with no work.Order a cheap 7/8 drill bit same time to remove that lip but hopefully not the threads. If careful you can use smaller bit and just chew away material to remove the lip - but hard spot to see well usually.If OEM plastic drain port hasn't been replaced already with nice pipe & ball valve handle, do that after this work to drain out calcium deposits and bits of metal.

I have a pair of BW 40-gallon MI40T6FBN’s installed in 2010. Nearly 9 years later I just did my first-ever anode replacement, using these. I verified with BW that the original anodes were magnesium and not aluminum. This is an important point, as many replacement anodes are aluminum and they’re the wrong choice for most users.Of course getting the originals out was the challenge. A 14” monkey wrench alone wouldn’t budge it with two people holding the tank and a 6’ strong guy on the wrench. But adding a 36” pipe on the wrench handle turned it into an easy job for one person - yes, EASY. A 24” pipe was all that was really needed. Leverage is a magical thing.These replacements did have an area where the plastic (or nylon or whatever the white material is) was swelled where it was molded over the steel fitting, preventing them from going through the hole in the tank. On one I spent two minutes shaving the area down with a box knife. On the other I shaved it down with a file. Either way works fine, it’s not rocket science. I only had to take off about 1/32” over a dime-sized area.The new anodes didn’t even need trimming for length. Laid side by side with the originals, these are about 1” shorter measured from the tank threads down.I’d buy these again without question.

I replace two tanks anodes with these. Fingers crossed for another 15 years from each!I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get my old one out so I'll detail the process a little for the benefit of the clan.Bring a LONG pipe wrench or a cheater pipe.Also you'll need a 5/8" carriage bolt to keep the old one from crushing.Search "waterheatertimer". There's a great write up on it.In my case the water heater was tied down again our California earthquakes. This took care of the tank not spinning nicely.I'd done one with a hex head 1 1/16 before and that was easy when I put my pneumatic impact wrench on it, impossible otherwise because the tank spun.On these tanks without the hex head you can't use an impact wrench so my advice is to actually secure your tank to the wall with that metal tape, or maybe clever use of a 2x4 between the input and output pipes.Once I put the cheater pipe on it was easy, with just a foot-long wrench... not happening.

I am concerned that some links fell down in tank since rod was not fitting where PVC fitting is so when I tried to remove rod and then I see 2 links were missing which means it fell down.Finally Sanded hard about 1mm all side all the way and I was able to fit in. Unfortunately too much work for DIY and also rod fell inside tank ( 1/2) so hopefully I get some refund back from seller

Don't wait. I only thought to do mine after my dads (both bought sane time) failed. His anode was gone, mine was about 1/4" at most but completely covered in barnacles and probably completely ineffective. Swap was easy and straightforward.

picture from my change in 2014 with blue lightening. i think they're good products but i waited too long . lesson learned. point of note, magnet shows cable is steel and will rust away, so now i'v got a few segments in the bottom of my water heater. i'll change every 2 years now.

Make sure you have a long extension bar for the pipe wrench to remove the existing nipple. Also, have a roll of plumbers tape. Anode itself appears to be 5 stars.

I have a Kenmore Power Meiser electric 66 gallon. I like the rod and it is well constructed. But, the part just before the threads did not slide into the tank. I have ground off the plastic portion between the rod and the 3/4" threads and I think I can get it in there. The old one looked like it had been shaved off as well. Perhaps Kenmore uses an odd sized rod?