Is A Magnesium Anode In A Water Heater The Same Thing As A Heating Element?
NO! The anode rod is in there to prevent your water heater from rusting. In time the anode rod will “rust” away while the steel water heater parts will not. The idea is to replace the anode rod when it is used up. If you do this your heater can last many many years, perhaps 25! And this is one of the differences between cheap water heaters and expensive ones. The expensive heaters have more and bigger anode rods. Smart people buy cheap heaters and replace the rods from time to time.
