Question of the day: I was looking at purchasing the Fusion Hybrid Professional Grade and was wondering if your customers have seen an increased need to either replace their hot water tank or to increase the anode rod on a regular basis. I have been told that I will need to replace the anode rod about every three years or replace the hot water heaters every 5-6 years. - Pat The Water Doctor Answered: Pat, That is nonsense. Here's a couple of things:

1. Water heaters are made with much thinner walls now than they used to be, so whether it is on hard water or soft water frequently makes little difference to water heater life - they only last 6-10 years either way (some may last longer, but it is the exception, not the rule). The difference is that with soft water, you will also save 24% on energy costs. That is where the substantial savings occurs. On tankless water heaters, soft water saves up to 57%!
2. The anode rod is not a big deal unless you are in an area where the pH is low. My anode rod has been in for 7 years with no issues. There are some uninformed plumbers... and plumbers that may want "recurring" revenue - if you know what I mean.

The Water Quality Association has a Softened Water Benefits Study by Batelle Memorial Institude that details the savings with soft water on a water heater. A water heater is the second largest energy-using appliance in your home and using softened water results in hundreds (if not thousnads) of dollars savings over the 10-year life of a water heater.