chris_im_tal
2022-08-25 08:36:18
- #1
Hello everyone,
We moved into our single-family house in September last year, which had previously been used for about a few months as a "show home" by a developer. That means the installation of the heating system, etc., dates from August 2020.
We recently had the factory customer service from Vaillant perform maintenance on the air-to-water heat pump heating system including the domestic hot water tank in the house. The technician also wanted to check the condition of the sacrificial anode in the domestic hot water tank (Vaillant VIH RW 300 / BR 3). This is the factory-installed magnesium rod anode. However, the tank is located in a basement room with a low ceiling, and water pipes run above the tank just below the ceiling, further limiting the available space above the tank. There is about 40 cm of "air" space left.
As a result, the technician was only able to visually inspect part of the anode but concluded that it should be replaced. In this context, he suggested switching to a chain anode at the same time. Now one apparently has to pull out the used anode bit by bit and cut it off with the angle grinder.
I reported this to the developer, who forwarded it to the heating installer responsible. He was friendly but does not understand the problem or sees it differently. His argument: If the anode were used up, the remaining part would be so short that it could be easily pulled out. As long as the anode is so long that it needs to be shortened, it is still fine and usable.
I can understand both arguments but cannot really assess them.
The developer leaves it open whether the anode should be replaced now or later. If we want it done now, he would cover the labor costs, and we would have to pay for the anode itself (as a "wear part"). Alternatively, the developer suggests waiting with the replacement and having it done as part of routine maintenance next year or the year after. Then the developer would cover the material costs for a new anode, and we would pay the maintenance costs according to the existing maintenance contract with the manufacturer.
Do you have experience with this topic or a recommendation?
Thanks in advance!
We moved into our single-family house in September last year, which had previously been used for about a few months as a "show home" by a developer. That means the installation of the heating system, etc., dates from August 2020.
We recently had the factory customer service from Vaillant perform maintenance on the air-to-water heat pump heating system including the domestic hot water tank in the house. The technician also wanted to check the condition of the sacrificial anode in the domestic hot water tank (Vaillant VIH RW 300 / BR 3). This is the factory-installed magnesium rod anode. However, the tank is located in a basement room with a low ceiling, and water pipes run above the tank just below the ceiling, further limiting the available space above the tank. There is about 40 cm of "air" space left.
As a result, the technician was only able to visually inspect part of the anode but concluded that it should be replaced. In this context, he suggested switching to a chain anode at the same time. Now one apparently has to pull out the used anode bit by bit and cut it off with the angle grinder.
I reported this to the developer, who forwarded it to the heating installer responsible. He was friendly but does not understand the problem or sees it differently. His argument: If the anode were used up, the remaining part would be so short that it could be easily pulled out. As long as the anode is so long that it needs to be shortened, it is still fine and usable.
I can understand both arguments but cannot really assess them.
The developer leaves it open whether the anode should be replaced now or later. If we want it done now, he would cover the labor costs, and we would have to pay for the anode itself (as a "wear part"). Alternatively, the developer suggests waiting with the replacement and having it done as part of routine maintenance next year or the year after. Then the developer would cover the material costs for a new anode, and we would pay the maintenance costs according to the existing maintenance contract with the manufacturer.
Do you have experience with this topic or a recommendation?
Thanks in advance!