Water heater life extender

Abstract

An illustrated view of an improved anode rod assembly for removing corrosive elements from the water of the tank. The improved anode rod assembly is useful for providing a longer life span for water heater units. Further, an illustrated view of an exemplary water intake assembly is presented. The water intake assembly is useful, it provides an extra port so that more anodes can be inserted into the tank. Also having the dip tube at the very bottom of the tank provides more hot water and increases the efficiency of the water heater. Having multiple anodes will give an indefinite life span for the water heater.

1 . An improved water heater providing lengthened cathodic protection for lengthened life-span of the water heater, the water heater comprising:
 a tank defining an interior of the tank and having a top surface, a bottom, and side walls;   at least one top port extending through the top surface of the tank;   a bottom drain port extending through one of the side walls of the tank in proximity to the bottom of the tank;   a water intake assembly attached to the exterior of the tank at the bottom drain port and comprising:
 a three-way coupling-t-device having a left side port, a center port and a right side port; 
 a water piping for coupling to a cold-water source, said water piping coupled to the center port of the coupling-t-device; 
 a dip tube coupled at one end to the left side port of the coupling-t-device and extending horizontally through the bottom drain port of the tank for placement of cold water at a distal end thereof within the interior of the tank when coupled to the cold-water source via the coupling-t-device; and 
 a tank drain valve coupled to the right side port of the coupling-t-device; and an anode rod assembly comprising: 
 one or more anode rods flexibly suspended within the interior of the tank from at least one cap engaging a top port of the tank, 
 wherein each anode rod comprises a single non-flexible element of finished desired length to extend from its top end for installation near the top of the tank to its distal bottom end at the desired fully installed depth within the tank; and is flexibly attached to a cap by a wire having a first end attached to the anode rod and another end attached to the interior of the cap, whereby the flexible attachment of the at least one anode rod to the cap permits the attachment of more than one anode rods to the cap following insertion of said anode rods through the top port of the tank. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more anode rods comprises a small steel rod in the center coated with a sacrificial metal. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more anode rods have a diameter of at least three-fourths (0.75) inches. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein a power source to remove sediments and other elements from water within the tank interior is created by cathodic action. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein water piping comprises a poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) material. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the dip tube comprises a poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) material. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the number of one or more anode rods is four (4) or more. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more anode rod assemblies being grouped. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire used to connect the one or more anode rods to the at least one cap is twenty (20) gauge bus bar. 
     
     
         13 . A method for enhancing the lifespan of a water heater by providing lengthened cathodic protection thereof, wherein the water heater comprises:
 a tank defining an interior and having a top surface, a bottom, and side walls;   at least one top port extending through the top surface of the tank; and   a bottom drain port extending through the side wall of the tank in proximity to the bottom of the tank;   the method comprising:   determining a desired number of anode rods suspended within the interior of the tank to provide lengthened cathodic protection, each anode rod comprising a single non-flexible element of finished desired length to extend from its top end for installation near the top of the tank to its distal bottom end at the desired fully installed depth within the tank;   inserting the desired number of anode rods through existing top ports in the tank for suspension therein, attaching a water intake assembly to the exterior of the tank at the bottom drain port of the tank, the water intake assembly comprising:   a three-way coupling-t-device having a left side port, a center port and a right side port;   a water piping for coupling to a cold-water source, said water piping coupled to the center port of the coupling-t-device; and   a dip tube coupled at one end to the left side port of the coupling-t-device and extending horizontally through the bottom drain port of the tank for placement of cold water at a distal end thereof within the interior of the tank when coupled to the cold-water source via the coupling-t-device; and   a tank drain valve coupled to the right side port of the coupling-t-device;   wherein the shorter length and horizontal orientation of the dip tube provides enhanced lifespan to the dip tube; and   the anode rods provide a lengthened period of time of cathodic protection to the hot water heater assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the desired number of anode rods are inserted and suspended within the tank in an anode rod assembly comprising the desired number of anode rods flexibly suspended within the interior of the tank from at least one cap engaging a top port of the tank, wherein each of the desired number of anode rods is flexibly attached to a cap by a wire having a first end attached to the anode rod and another end attached to the interior of the cap, whereby the flexible attachment of the anode rod to the cap permits the attachment of more than one anode rod to the cap following insertion of said anode rods through the top port of the tank. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wire used to connect each of the desired number of anode rods to the at least one cap is twenty (20) gauge bus bar. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the desired number of anode rods comprises a small steel rod in the center coated with magnesium. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the desired number of anode rods have a diameter between one-half (0.5) inches to (0.840) inches. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the desired number of anode rods is four (4) or more. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the dip tube comprises a poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) material. 
     
     
         21 . A conversion apparatus for use with a water heater to provide enhanced cathodic protection for lengthened life span of the water heater, the water heater comprising a tank defining an interior of the tank and having a top surface, a bottom, and side walls; at least one top port extending through the top surface of the tank, and a bottom drain port extending through the side wall of the tank in proximity to the bottom of the tank, wherein the conversion apparatus comprises: a water intake assembly for attachment to the exterior of the tank at the bottom drain port and comprising:
 a three-way coupling-t-device having a left side port, a center port and a right side port;   a water piping for coupling to a cold-water source, said water piping coupled to the center port of the coupling-t-device;   a dip tube coupled at one end to the left side port of the coupling-t-device; and   a tank drain valve coupled to the right side port of the coupling-t-device; and at least one anode rod assembly comprising:   a cap for attachment to a top port of the tank;   one or more linear anode rods, where each linear anode rod comprises a single non-flexible element of finished desired length to extend from its top end for installation near the top of the tank to its distal bottom end at the desired fully installed depth within the tank; and   a wire corresponding to each anode rod having a first end for attachment to the anode rod and another end for attachment to the interior of the cap.   
     
     
         22 . The conversion apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said conversion apparatus can be installed upon the water heater by:
 installing the water intake assembly to the bottom drain port of the tank, whereupon the dip tube will extend horizontally through the bottom drain port of the tank for placement of cold water at a distal end thereof within the interior of the tank when coupled to the cold-water source via the coupling-t-device; and   installing each anode rod assembly in respect of a top port in the tank by:
 attaching each linear anode rod to the first end of its corresponding wire; 
 attaching the other end of each wire to the cap; 
 inserting each linear anode rod into the interior of the tank through the top port; and 
 attaching the cap to the top port to seal same.