anode rod

[mrpink]

what does a bad anode rod from a hot water heater look like? bit of back ground I have a hot water heater that hasn't been used much in the past year. it is connected to county water. it went several months not being used at all. turned it back on and the water had a sulfur smell. with the hot water valves at the heater turned off the cold water was fine. hot water heater was drained and refilled. still sulfur smell. finally got the anode rod out today. it has some pitting but for the most part still looks like a piece of 1/2 rebar. the center core is exposed at some points. the whole rod has a white coating on it. since I have it out I will be buying a new rod tomorrow but should I do anything else? should I pour some bleach in the tank before I install the new rod?

[Cabin Fever]

How hydrogen sulfide gas is produced in a water heater

What you can do about a problem water heater

[mrpink]

so I should flush the hot water heater with bleach before I install a new anode rod?

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by mrpink

so I should flush the hot water heater with bleach before I install a new anode rod?

If you read the links I provided, you'd find that disinfecting the HW heater with bleach is one of the solutions.

Personally, I'd just crank up the HW heater to a higher temp for a few hours to kill the sulfur bacteria (which is also one of the solutions provided in the links I posted).

[mrpink]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

If you read the links I provided, you'd find that disinfecting the HW heater with bleach is one of the solutions.

Personally, I'd just crank up the HW heater to a higher temp for a few hours to kill the sulfur bacteria (which is also one of the solutions provided in the links I posted).

I did read both of the links you provided. the what would you do response was what I was looking for. I know in electronics what I would recommend someone do and what i would do personally do is different

[tom j]

when I built this house the hot water drove you out of the house for the smell ,, I called the company that made the heater and they said I have a gas in the water ,, that reacted with the rod , they sent me a different rod and no more smell ..

[Txrider]

You have a magnesium alloy anode rod.

If you leave it in the smell will return.

Either leave it out altogether, or get an aluminum type anode rod that should not smell.

[Nature Man]

I had that problem with my electric hot water heater a few years ago. Had the rod taken out and the problem was sloved.

Bill

[farminghandyman]

here is a picture of a shot rod and a new one,

http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/att...2&d=1300157123

and here is the thread that came from,
http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36810

note: this is a hot water side anode, (some heaters have two anodes in them) one in the anode hole and one under the nipple of the hot water out let, (picture is of this type),

this web site explains it some,

basics (note: posted for informational info, no experience with the company), http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...er-basics.html

on the hot water side anode rod,
http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...ium-Anode.html