I have disconnected the hot water side of an AOSmith water heater, I have verified that I have a combo anode. How do I pull the anode out? I grabbed the plastic lip with a pliers and half of it ripped off, there is no hex nut.

Hi Longville:

The AO smith combo anode rod can be a pain as you now know!

See the image below...

You can see there is a hole(s) in the plastic connector just in between the nipple and the anode rod. You need to make a tool so that the end is bent and strong, but can slip down inside the plastic and engage that hole. Once you connect into the hole with the right tool you should be able to "YANK" that baby up and out of there!

Sometimes a metal clothes hanger will work and other times you need thicker metal such as a threaded rod (sold at all home supply stores).

They also make a few tools out there with crooked ends... see image. Something like this (only bigger) would also work.

If these ideas fail, pop back ane let us know I have one more idea, but only a last resort type idea... ;)

Let us know how you make out... O.K.?

MARK

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Yuk! My $.02

To remove this anode rod from the water heater you have to use a pipe wrench and unscrew the nipple that is in the water heater. The white plastic that you can see is a protecter of the galavanized nipple.

So unscrew the nipple and the rod and all will come out.

You mean the Anode rod is separeted from the nipple see the image below, if so follow Mark's instruction if that will not work pop back I am sure Mark has another option,good luck.

John