Camco 11593 Magnesium Anode Rod for Atwood 10 Gal
Camco 11593 Magnesium Anode Rod for Atwood 10 Gal — Product description
The Camco 11593 is a magnesium sacrificial anode rod sized for Atwood 10-gallon water heaters. It corrodes in place of your tank, so the tank stays sound and your hot water stays clean. Magnesium also helps knock down that sulfur smell. It's the cheapest insurance you'll ever put in a water heater.
The Camco 11593 is a magnesium sacrificial anode rod built to fit Atwood 10-gallon water heaters. It's a small part with a big job. The rod sits inside your water heater tank and corrodes on purpose, drawing the corrosion to itself instead of letting it eat away at the tank walls. That's the whole idea behind a sacrificial anode, and it's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy for a water heater.
Here's how it works. Water, especially water carrying dissolved minerals, is mildly corrosive to metal. Left alone, it slowly attacks the inside of the tank. A magnesium anode is more reactive than the tank metal, so the water goes after the rod first. The anode gives itself up over time so the tank stays sound. When the rod is used up, the tank is next in line. That's why you replace the anode before it's completely gone, not after.
We went with the magnesium version here for a reason. Magnesium anodes tend to run cleaner in fresh water and do a better job holding off that rotten-egg sulfur smell some folks get out of the tap. If your hot water has picked up an odor, a fresh magnesium rod is often the first thing to try. Magnesium does give itself up a little faster than other anode materials, so in harder or brackish water you'll be checking it more often. That's a fair trade for the corrosion protection and the cleaner water.
Fitment is specific, so match it to your heater. This rod measures 9-1/2 inches long and 0.6 inches in diameter, with a 1/2-inch NPT thread. It's cut for Atwood 10-gallon water heaters. One thing to know up front: this is the version without a drain valve. The rod threads into the tank as a plain anode, so you'll drain and flush the tank through its existing drain point rather than through the rod itself. If your setup depends on a drain-style anode, this isn't that part.
Installation is straightforward if you've turned a wrench before. Kill the power and the water supply, let the tank cool, and relieve the pressure before you touch anything. Drain the tank. Back out the old rod, clean the threads, and wrap the new rod's 1/2-inch NPT threads with a few turns of Teflon tape before you thread it in. Go in by hand first to start the threads clean. Atwood tanks can cross-thread if you force a rod in at an angle, and that's a leak you don't want. Snug it down, refill, and check for weeping before you bring the heater back up to temperature.
After that, it's just a matter of checking it once a season. Pull the rod during your annual service and look at it. If it's down to roughly a quarter of its original thickness or the core wire is showing, put a new one in. A rod that sits in a rig that doesn't get used much can corrode through and even break off at the weld, so don't skip the yearly look just because the water heater isn't seeing hard use. Flush the tank while you're in there. A vinegar rinse clears scale, keeps the whole system happier, and helps the next rod last longer. Boaters and RV owners who stay on top of this get years of quiet, reliable hot water out of a tank that would otherwise rust from the inside out.
The packaging is printed in English and French, which matters exactly zero to how the rod performs. What matters is that it's a genuine Camco part cut to the right dimensions for your Atwood heater. Keep a spare on the shelf. When the old one's spent, you'll be glad you've got the next one ready to go.
Key Features
- Magnesium sacrificial anode corrodes in place of the tank, protecting the water heater from the inside out
- Sized for Atwood 10-gallon water heaters: 9-1/2 inch length by 0.6 inch diameter
- 1/2 inch NPT thread fits the standard water heater anode port
- Magnesium construction runs cleaner in fresh water and helps cut the sulfur rotten-egg odor
- Without-drain design threads in as a plain anode rod
- Genuine Camco replacement part
- English and French bilingual packaging
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Camco reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | For Atwood 10 Gallon Water Heaters; 9-1/2 Inch Length x 0.6 Inch Diameter x 1/2 Inch NPT; Magnesium; Without Drain; With English/ French Language Packaging |
|---|---|
| Brand | Camco |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 11593 |
| UPC | 014717115933 |
| Product Type | Water Heater Anode Rod |
| Anode Material | Magnesium |
| Length | 9-1/2 Inch |
| Diameter | 0.6 Inch |
| Thread Size | 1/2 Inch NPT |
| Drain Valve | Without Drain |
| Fits | Atwood 10 Gallon Water Heaters |
| Packaging | English / French Language |
Frequently asked questions
What does the Camco 11593 anode rod actually do?
It's a sacrificial anode. The magnesium rod is more reactive than your tank metal, so the corrosive action in the water attacks the rod instead of the tank. The rod slowly gives itself up so your water heater tank stays sound. Replace it before it's used up and the tank lasts a lot longer.
Which water heaters does it fit?
It's cut for Atwood 10-gallon water heaters, with a 9-1/2 inch length, 0.6 inch diameter, and a 1/2 inch NPT thread. Match those dimensions to your heater's anode port before you order.
Why a magnesium rod instead of another material?
Magnesium runs cleaner in fresh water and does a better job knocking down the rotten-egg sulfur smell that some tanks develop. It does deplete a little faster in hard or brackish water, so you'll check it more often, but the corrosion protection and cleaner water are worth it.
Will it help with the rotten-egg smell in my hot water?
Often, yes. That sulfur odor usually comes from a reaction inside the tank, and a fresh magnesium anode is one of the first things to try. Pair it with a good tank flush for the best result.
Does this anode rod have a drain valve?
No. This is the without-drain version. It threads in as a plain anode, so you drain and flush the tank through its existing drain point rather than through the rod. If you specifically need a drain-style anode, this isn't that part.
What are the exact dimensions and thread size?
9-1/2 inches long, 0.6 inches in diameter, with a 1/2 inch NPT thread.
Do I need Teflon tape to install it?
Yes, wrap a few turns of Teflon tape on the 1/2 inch NPT threads before you thread the rod in. Start it by hand so you don't cross-thread the port, then snug it down and check for leaks when you refill.
How often should I check or replace the anode?
Pull it once a season during your annual service. If it's down to about a quarter of its original thickness or the core wire is showing, replace it. Don't skip the yearly look on a rig that sits unused, since a neglected rod can corrode through and break off.
How can I make the rod last longer?
Flush the tank when you inspect the rod. A vinegar rinse clears out scale and sediment, which keeps the water heater healthier and helps the next anode last longer.
