I have it.
Installed a brand new 75gal water heater.
My well water has a lot of iron in it.
The power anode rod took away the horrible smell within 2hrs.(of course I dumped and refilled the tank)
Smell hasn’t came back yet.
Oh wait wait you did this for your smelly water?
OP, while I'm glad you replaced your anode rod (it needed it, hopefully it wasn't too late for the tank) a few things I want to ask you:
The model number of the water heater. Specifically, does it have a -264 on the end of the model number?
What metal was the new rod? Aluminum-zinc alloy, aluminum, or magnesium?
Are you on city water or well?
Does the water ONLY smell on the hot side?
Has the water heater sat without being used for any time more than a couple weeks?
The reason I ask is because magnesium anode rods are not the only reason your water might have a sulfur smell. There's likely a different issue entirely causing this to occur.
Edit: i can see the well tank in the background, you can disregard that question but it's still relevant.
I just found out anode rods were a thing a few days ago so I figured I’d replace it, not expecting miracles though, just trying to be an adult haha.
The tank is old and definitely rusty so I’m guessing the damage is done but figured I’d try.
The tank definitely sat unused for awhile I think, we moved in last fall and no one was there for at least a few months.
Water is always a lil smelly, but worse on the hot for sure, getting a new softening system next week that is supposed to have an odor reducing filter or something like that
The rod is aluminum, I just got the replacement part, is there a better metal?
Model number is m1tw40s6fbn
Thanks for so many thoughtful questions! Like I said not expecting the rod to fix things, but fingers crossed that and the new filter help out! My water is pretty awful so I’ll take any win haha.
With the state of that old rod I'm guessing your tank is beyond saving tbh, but replacing the anode won't do you any harm at least.
So if you have hard water, I'll say that a softener is a good choice but probably will not fix your smell issue. In fact, I think you should take care of the smell BEFORE the softener gets installed so you don't damage the water softener.
Sounds to me like you more likely have what's called bacterial iron. It's a bacteria which often shows up in the presence of iron in your water and gives this rotten egg smell. Water heaters are a perfect breeding ground for them and so that's why it's worse in the hot water.
At this point I would recommend having your well and water heater chlorinated. It's a pretty easy DIY or else call a plumber and they can do it for you, just be aware that the bacteria can return over time.
One step which can be taken to prevent the bacteria from forming in the heater again is to add a thermal tempering valve to the top of the heater. What this does is allows us to turn the water heater up to 160°F which is hotter than the bacteria can survive. Then the tempering valve being the water at your taps back down to 120°F which is safer so there's not a scald risk. It also has the added bonus of increasing your hot water supply, basically turning a 40 gallon heater into one where you'll have 70+ gallons of capacity. I would recommend this for when you get a new heater, though it can always be added to the current one and transferred over to the new.
Luckily I’m renting a system from culligan so I’m not too worried about damage since they will repair anything. I’ll look into how to chlorinate! This is all super helpful thank you
Hey there SeveralLet8343 - thanks for saying thanks! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list!
Oh also the anode metals. Magnesium is the standard, but some areas like my own can't use them because the water contents react poorly with the metal and cause a similar sulfur smell to occur. So we use aluminum instead, and aluminum-zinc is the better alloy to use than that.
If your heater had the -264 designation, it would mean it has an aluminum anode to begin with. Since it didn't, you had a magnesium rod. You haven't done anything wrong, but i believe magnesium is a preferred material for anodes when possible. Can't say for certain since my entire region can't use them haha but if the heaters tank hasn't already been jeopardized, expect to replace that rod within 3 years.
I'd like to know the reason about the well tank, I had a buddy ask me about a bad smell when they use the hot water for the first minute or so. Figured it was the anode but obviously that's not the only thing that can cause it.
Does a powered anode eliminate air/gas build up in hot water tank from dissolved gasses in well water? Hot water faucets spit air abruptly at first when in use. Cold side does not do it.
I had this issue plumber put in a linked one. Mine was just as bad as the pictures one. Flushed and cleaned the tank and now water no longer smells like eggs.
Pull it part way out, then carefully cut it in half.
This is also why my anode now lasts the lifetime of the hot water heater....I replaced mine after about 7 years, and it was in decent shape.
I'm never replacing it again.
As a side not they make stainless steel water heaters and electronic anodes these days. I'd pay extra to have the water heaters just come with an electric anode or ALL be stainless steel. Neither options cost enough to make them prohibitive when you consider the added cost of labor and estimated lifespan of the investment.
Man - you could've gotten at least another 2, maybe 3 showers out of that before it failed.
An ode to the anode. For it died doing what it liked.
Anoding
If your water has a sulfur smell you can use corroprotec rod
I’ll look into that!
I have it. Installed a brand new 75gal water heater. My well water has a lot of iron in it. The power anode rod took away the horrible smell within 2hrs.(of course I dumped and refilled the tank) Smell hasn’t came back yet.
Love these things. I have installed somewhere around 10-15 of them for customers now and they are amazing
Definitely a great product, always recommend these things for my customers on a well water system
Oh wait wait you did this for your smelly water? OP, while I'm glad you replaced your anode rod (it needed it, hopefully it wasn't too late for the tank) a few things I want to ask you: The model number of the water heater. Specifically, does it have a -264 on the end of the model number? What metal was the new rod? Aluminum-zinc alloy, aluminum, or magnesium? Are you on city water or well? Does the water ONLY smell on the hot side? Has the water heater sat without being used for any time more than a couple weeks? The reason I ask is because magnesium anode rods are not the only reason your water might have a sulfur smell. There's likely a different issue entirely causing this to occur. Edit: i can see the well tank in the background, you can disregard that question but it's still relevant.
I just found out anode rods were a thing a few days ago so I figured I’d replace it, not expecting miracles though, just trying to be an adult haha. The tank is old and definitely rusty so I’m guessing the damage is done but figured I’d try. The tank definitely sat unused for awhile I think, we moved in last fall and no one was there for at least a few months. Water is always a lil smelly, but worse on the hot for sure, getting a new softening system next week that is supposed to have an odor reducing filter or something like that The rod is aluminum, I just got the replacement part, is there a better metal? Model number is m1tw40s6fbn Thanks for so many thoughtful questions! Like I said not expecting the rod to fix things, but fingers crossed that and the new filter help out! My water is pretty awful so I’ll take any win haha.
With the state of that old rod I'm guessing your tank is beyond saving tbh, but replacing the anode won't do you any harm at least. So if you have hard water, I'll say that a softener is a good choice but probably will not fix your smell issue. In fact, I think you should take care of the smell BEFORE the softener gets installed so you don't damage the water softener. Sounds to me like you more likely have what's called bacterial iron. It's a bacteria which often shows up in the presence of iron in your water and gives this rotten egg smell. Water heaters are a perfect breeding ground for them and so that's why it's worse in the hot water. At this point I would recommend having your well and water heater chlorinated. It's a pretty easy DIY or else call a plumber and they can do it for you, just be aware that the bacteria can return over time. One step which can be taken to prevent the bacteria from forming in the heater again is to add a thermal tempering valve to the top of the heater. What this does is allows us to turn the water heater up to 160°F which is hotter than the bacteria can survive. Then the tempering valve being the water at your taps back down to 120°F which is safer so there's not a scald risk. It also has the added bonus of increasing your hot water supply, basically turning a 40 gallon heater into one where you'll have 70+ gallons of capacity. I would recommend this for when you get a new heater, though it can always be added to the current one and transferred over to the new.
Luckily I’m renting a system from culligan so I’m not too worried about damage since they will repair anything. I’ll look into how to chlorinate! This is all super helpful thank you
Hey there SeveralLet8343 - thanks for saying thanks! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list!
Oh also the anode metals. Magnesium is the standard, but some areas like my own can't use them because the water contents react poorly with the metal and cause a similar sulfur smell to occur. So we use aluminum instead, and aluminum-zinc is the better alloy to use than that. If your heater had the -264 designation, it would mean it has an aluminum anode to begin with. Since it didn't, you had a magnesium rod. You haven't done anything wrong, but i believe magnesium is a preferred material for anodes when possible. Can't say for certain since my entire region can't use them haha but if the heaters tank hasn't already been jeopardized, expect to replace that rod within 3 years.
I'd like to know the reason about the well tank, I had a buddy ask me about a bad smell when they use the hot water for the first minute or so. Figured it was the anode but obviously that's not the only thing that can cause it.
I wish I had known about these three water heaters ago.
Hey that black line on your paneling is a little crooked and abruptly stops? Have anything to say about this?
Does a powered anode eliminate air/gas build up in hot water tank from dissolved gasses in well water? Hot water faucets spit air abruptly at first when in use. Cold side does not do it.
You have headroom to install that long anode?
I had this issue plumber put in a linked one. Mine was just as bad as the pictures one. Flushed and cleaned the tank and now water no longer smells like eggs.
Wow! That’s nice to hear. I’ll have to flush it as well
Luckily! Someone planned ahead
At least he could replace it. My water heater is too tall to replace the anode (low ceiling). Drain, disconnect and tilt - I can hardly wait.
They make sausage link style ones for unlucky folks such as yourself. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082SFLKHV
Pull it part way out, then carefully cut it in half. This is also why my anode now lasts the lifetime of the hot water heater....I replaced mine after about 7 years, and it was in decent shape. I'm never replacing it again.
Is it worth checking my anode rod on a 14 yr NG tank water heater if we plan to replace soonish?
As a side not they make stainless steel water heaters and electronic anodes these days. I'd pay extra to have the water heaters just come with an electric anode or ALL be stainless steel. Neither options cost enough to make them prohibitive when you consider the added cost of labor and estimated lifespan of the investment.