What is the difference between magnesium and aluminum anode rods?

Here are some important differences to consider regarding magnesium and aluminum anode rods in your water heater:

• Composition: Magnesium anode rods are made of magnesium alloy, while aluminum anode rods are made of aluminum alloy.
• Sacrificial protection: Both magnesium and aluminum anode rods provide sacrificial protection, which means that they corrode instead of the tank, thus preventing the tank from rusting.
• Corrosion rate: Magnesium anode rods have a higher corrosion rate than aluminum anode rods, which means that they will corrode faster. This means that magnesium anode rods need to be replaced more frequently than aluminum anode rods.
• Water hardness: Magnesium anode rods are more effective in soft water, while aluminum anode rods are more effective in hard water. This is because magnesium anode rods will corrode faster in hard water, which means that they will need to be replaced more frequently.
• Life expectancy: Magnesium anode rods typically have a shorter lifespan than aluminum anode rods, which means that they will need to be replaced more frequently.
• Cost: Magnesium anode rods are typically less expensive than aluminum anode rods.

In summary, the main difference between magnesium and aluminum anode rods is that magnesium anode rods are more efficient in soft water and have a shorter lifespan, while aluminum anode rods are more efficient in hard water and have a longer lifespan. The choice of which one to use depends on the water hardness of the area and the budget.