Water from free sink stinks.

I added a 30 gallon non-bladder tank behind the bladder tank----added a air valve where I could add air to this tank. With 3 homes/Families on this well, I had to add air about every 6 weeks which took just minutes. Problem solved. Never had to "shock" a tank, or pour bleach/peroxide down a well etc.

If you have a non-bladder tank in use now----just add a air valve where you can add air to it. With just one family-----you should not have to add air for 2 to 3 month.

When we noticed a slight smell in the water-----I would go add air.

WOW! Thanks !!
Now someone tell me why, since this is clearly a common problem, these tanks don't already come with the smell-less rods?

Zinc anode costs more, and it's only a common problem for well water. Lots of people have city water so it's not worth the additional cost.

Magnesium works a little better at protecting the tank, and any excess of magnesium is a tiny bit easier on the body than an excess of zinc, since magnesium gets excreted easily. Overall, the high iron areas of the country are far fewer than the "sweet" water areas. Local plumbers will generally know of the unusual situations.

We have been considering an "on demand" water heater and I've wondered if this problem would persist with one of those. Anyone know?

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As far as I know on demand systems don't have anode rods since there is no tank to rust out.

And to the OP, 99% of the time its the anode rod.

And you could remove it all together but your tank would rust out quickly.

The only difference between the 5 and 10 year warranty water heaters is the 10's have 2 anode rods and the 5 only has 1. So they make a difference.

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