Hot water oder caused by the anode rod?

I posted several months back about how the colored cloths coming out of our High efficiency washer smelled like rotten eggs.

A little history:
1) Well water tested. All was fine
2) Shock treated the well just to make sure
3) Ran the cleaning cycle on the washing machine weekly rather than the once each month like the manual says to do.
4) Boiled some of the well water to make sure zero sulfur in the well.

Still had smelly cloths. Real smelly when they get damp again like towels or sweating in a Tee shirt.

So asked on here and researched the anode rod in the hot water heater. Seems the likely cause of the trouble. Proved it by washing the colored cloths in straight cold water rather than warm water. The cloths washed in cold have ZERO smell. Also now that we are not using as much hot water through the washer the hot water at the kitchen sink has an odor.

So I thought I would just change the anode rod. Even that seems to be an issue. Some are telling me to replace the original with a aluminum/zinc combination rod. Then another source says that the Aluminum/zinc rod is actually poisonous for human consumption. Others tell me to just remove it all together. Some say to get a "powered" anode rod for the water heater. So all I am real sure about now is that I am confused on what/how to fix this issue.

Would just replacing the water heater solve the problem?? Will the new water heater's anode rod make the water smell too??? The reason I am asking I is that with the rebates from the utility company a new water heater is not much higher than the anode rod to needed to fix the current one. Plus the current heater is 12 years old.

This is well water with a water softener and filter being used.

I do not want a gas water heater. Getting the propane supplied to the heater and a vent outside would be a real fight on where the plumbing is on this house.

So what the heck should I do??????

The well water around here makes the hot water from water heaters with an anode rod STINK.

Rural water came through a while back, sourced from 20 or 30 miles away, and it"s better, but still STINKS if no hot water is used for a couple of days.

I don"t know of ONE instance where anyone has special-ordered the alternate water heater anode rod from the WH manufacturer.

Most of use just hack the rod off and toss it.

The anode rod hangs from a threaded plug do-hickey screwed into the top of the WH.

Unscrew the plug and saw the anode rod off and re-install the bare plug, or simply pick up a 3/4" NPT brass plug and have it ready and remove the anode and plug the hole.

You will void the WH"s warranty, and POSSIBLY shorten the tank"s life by a year or two, but eliminate the stink.

If you install a plug and the stink continues (from another issue) you can always put the sacrificial rod back in.

My friend has been a plumber, hvac guy for 25 years, often times he recommends replacement, not to sell something, he's practical, if something can be repaired cost effectively or close, he will do that if a customer wants it, I've done many jobs with him and have had him do work on jobs for me.

I'd vote to replace, have you got a lot of sediment or build up in the bottom ?

The good thing, is its softened water, sounds like you should get longer service life, but my friend always says well water is hard on these. I did one across the lane last fall, it was the same age, but not softened water, and its had elements replaced, the anodes were nasty and just done, bottom full of mineral build up etc.

Cool you figured that out, I hate odors like that, drives you nuts til you figure it out LOL !

If you're getting a rebate from the electric company, put some cash with it and buy a Rheem Marathon. All fiberglass, no anode rod required!

I put one in my boss's house about 4 years ago, put one in the other boss's house (yes, I have 2) about 2 years ago, and one in my own house in January. So far so good.

They cost about twice what a regular one does, but have a lifetime guarantee. Home Depot has the best retail price, found mine on Ebay for a little less. Paid $650 for my 50 gallon.

A new heater will most likely have a magnesium anode. I replaced the magnesium rod on our new heater with an aluminum one, and that seemed to help. We still get the rotten egg smell if we leave home for a week.

Neighbor gave me an old 8 gallon elect. water heater that is 30 years old that I know of. First thing I did was open it up, cleaned out all the sediment deposits, installed a new single heating element, & a new anode rod. Been using this water heater for 8 years now; clean out sediment, new anode rod & heating element every 2 years whether it needs it or not. Use it every day & it works just like a new water heater. This is on a well, with high levels of dissolved Alkaline minerals.


Doc :>)

JD seller.

I no longer use a salt water softner. If you do, it's possible the salt is reacting with the anode. Try removing the anode, put a plug in the hole, bleach the tank and see if the smell goes away.

Then when you replace the anode, you will know it's either the anode, your softner or both.

BTW, I ordered a case of stens filters off ebay $40, free shipping. Thought that was a good deal. I need to change the oil on my JD mower.

Thanks for all your help.
George

Living alone, I have found that taking a bath 2 times a week, instead of the only "SATURDAY NITE" routine will decrease the amount of Sulpher smell in the hot water.

Actually this is the only time I use hot water.

HTH John,PA

No water softener in my house. SALT causes increase in blood pressure.

An honest doctor once told me: make sure the drinking water comes straight outta the well. Water softeners cause high blood pressure.

Since then, I have never had a doctor ask where I get my drinking water.

John,PA

Since you have confirmed the anode rod is the problem I would second Steve's post and look for a heater without the rod. I replaced my water heater several years back. The old unit was propane and had 3/4" of fiberglass insulation in the areas it actually had insulation - plus the chimmey through the center. The unit (electric) I went with was a Whirlpool with 3" of foam insulation.

With your unit being 12 years old I would think you could make a case for replacement.

John,
Hard to find a Dr that tells it like that. Good advice. Sometimes we are programmed to think water softners are good on plumbing. But to the benifits out weigh the risks? I not convinced, that's why I shut mine down. I'll replace water heater when it leaks. Good ones may last me 20-30 years before that happens. I buy hi density heating elements designed to operate in sand. They last a long time too.

I had a Dr tell me to get rid of the caddy and get a truck or SUV. Getting down into a car was hard on my back, which needs to be fused, but I refused to have operation. Dr was right about getting rid of caddy.

A reverse osmosis unit will remove the sodium ions in softened water, plus a host of other stuff. It's a good idea to have your well water tested. Ours has arsenic, not that much better for you than sodium.

I am having trouble with the camper heater, hot water stinks to high heaven,all of the water that goes into the fresh water tank comes from the house. I am thinking about a pipe plug instead of the anode.

Like I previously posted, give it a try. You can always put the (stink) rod back in, if desired. The only DOWNSIDE to removing the rod is (possibly) reduced WH life.

Remove the anode rod!

When you have the old anode rod out inspect it. If it's gone it's probably has rotted off and the piece is laying in the bottom of the heater. If that's the case replace the water heater.

If it's mostly intact after 12 years you don't need it anyway. Your water quality is pretty good. Leave it out.

If the water heater is located where it will do damage WHEN it leaks replace it. If no damage is likely, let it go till it fails.

As you well know the anode rod sacrifices itself to extend the life of the water heater. The question is how much more life can you get? I say not much provided the electrical system is properly grounded that the water piping system is bonded to that good ground.

In the Houston area we are routinely replacing 10 year old water heaters on behalf of our customers. They are just not built the way they used to be. I have pulled several anode rods and they are still partially intact with a few that looked close to new. That's a direct result of the water quality.

We have replaced magnesium anode rods and installed a zinc rod and that resolved the smell. We've also just eliminated the anode rod altogether and the water heaters sure didn't seem to fail any faster.

I know some areas that the water quality is so poor that the anode rod has to be replaced every couple years or the life of the heater is greatly reduced.

About a year ago I replaced my 30 gal electric heater that was 15 years old.
Within a week I had bad Hyd-sulfide odor. The store where I bought it is a local mom and pop hardware. They said remove the anode rod , which will void the manf warrantee but we will write you our own 10 year warrantee. Removed the rod, no more smell.
To the poster who has smell if they are gone a week: if you leave home form more than 3 days pop the breaker for the heater.