The anode rod (usually a separate rod) should be inspected and replaced when it warrants it, plus draining the heater at prescribed intervals, will add to the life of the heater. Note: The anode rods are often UNBELIEVABLY tight when installed at factory...I should have loosened it *before* having my heater installed. I decided to have it replaced on the early side (two years in) and had to get a plumber to remove the rod and replace in with a segmented anode rod (easier for when you have limited room above heater). I will do the future replacements myself now that the torque needed to remove it isn’t like it was for the plumber.
I also have a water leak alarm next to the heater(as well as many other places in house) and remember to replace batteries every year.
Impact Wrench required
My experience - I recently installed a hybrid water heater, which uses heat pump technology (essentially an air conditioner run in reverse) to heat the water, with backup electrodes in case of not enough heat differential to run the heat pump. Since I live in Florida, not a problem, and the more recent engineering advances have made the heat pump much quieter that earlier models. But the electric bill - dropped by $20 per month. Price with installation, abut $2,500 through Home Depot, using their contract installer. And there was a limited eleven-year warranty on the tank and installation.
Of course, there is no way of knowing if that was of particularly much value.
Can the Anode Rod be striped and decontminated and put back in effectively ?