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| Heater replacement/smell | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 03:10 am |
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1st Post |
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mitymurph Member 
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I have 2 electric water heaters. One is a 8 year American that is 9 years old and I want to replace it. The American has no odor. The other is a 9 year Whirlpool that is 2 years old and has developed an anode odor in the past 6 months. I like the Whirlpool otherwise and was wanting to replace the American with a 12 year or lifetime Whirlpool but obviously do not want the odor problem in the new heater. My water is soft (high sodium) well water. I can install a GE or Sears long warranty heater instead of the Whirlpool. How can I know what kind of anodes are in the new heater? Do I want Aluminum/Zinc? Should I call the tech people at Whirlpool, American. GE, Sears, etc. to try to make a determination? If I elect to ignore the odor problem in the Whirlpool model, will there be any harmful consequences? Any help you can give me will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jim
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 08:44 am |
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2nd Post |
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elenano Member
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Mitymurph, I think before you do anything else, you should treat the smelly water heater with hydrogen peroxide and see if that fixes it. You may not actually have the typical smelly water problem since you have none in one heater. Why do you want to replace the American? Eight or nine years isn't outrageously old for a water heater. Have you pulled the anode to check its condition? Or is the thing already leaking? Also, Whirlpool is also made by American. It's one of its subbrands. As to the rest, if you find you have the recurring rotten egg odor, either pure aluminum or magnesium will likely smell, although standard magnesium would likely be worse. Rheem puts a reducer in many of its magnesium anodes to slow down the driving current to the equivalent of aluminum. But aluminum/zinc is a better solution. The zinc is a key ingredient. If you are softening well water, there is a chance the aluminum/zinc anode won't work. That's why I started selling powered anodes. I had several people who bought aluminum/zinc anodes, but were softening well water and the anode didn't resolve the smell. One other thing. I generally advocate having two anodes in a tank for longevity, but when people have the rotten-egg odor, doubling the amount of anode metal in the tank may make that worse. So think twice about getting a 12-year-warranty tank unless that's the only way you can get maximum insulation. Naturally, it's a bit more trouble to keep an eye on a tank with one anode, but we believe people should be doing that anyway. If there is a Devil, he surely adores neglected water heater closets!  Randy Schuyler
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 08:36 pm |
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3rd Post |
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eleent Member
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Hello: When the time does come to replace a heater, you may want to look into Rheem's Marathon heater. It uses a plastic tank and no anode. It also comes with a lifetime warranty in residential applications. I've had some problems with elements failing in these heaters, but good service from Rheem technical support Yours, Larry
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 10:31 pm |
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4th Post |
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mitymurph Member
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Thanks, Randy.. The water here is naturally soft and I do not have a softener. Others go through water heaters at a rapid rate. I am replacing this 9 year old heater because we are installing new carpet on where the heater is located and I am nervous about it. I talked to a neighbor who has had Whirlpools over the years (same water supply) and has had no odor. Whirlpool (American) has a "special" anode for this problem so I will see how it goes. I probably will install a Whirlpool to replace the 9 year old one. I am going to thoroghly flush the smelly heater and add peroxcide to it. It is a 40 gallon size. How much disinfectant should I add? 2 quarts? Thanks in advance.. Jim
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 10:33 pm |
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5th Post |
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mitymurph Member
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Larry: Thanks for the insight into the plastic heater. I have looked at them before and have decided not to go with them because of cost. I also heard from others that they had problems with the heating element. Thanks again Jim
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2007 08:08 am |
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6th Post |
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elenano Member
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Oh no! Not two quarts! Make it two pints. And American's special anode is merely an aluminum/zinc one. And think about checking the anode and putting the older tank on a drain pan. It's a pity to throw the tank out unless it needs to be thrown out. Randy Schuyler
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| Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 05:06 pm |
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7th Post |
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blurhino Member
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I just replaced my old water heater (no smell) with a Whirlpool, and fell victim to the rotten-egg smell syndrome. I have the classic combo of softened well water as well.  I have since replaced the anode with a Alum/zinc, and the smell has abated somewhat, (3 weeks later ) but am seeking a permanent fix. (short of expensive powered anode, if that is one) Does it just take some time to work? Does the peroxide treatment fix it permanently, or do you have to do that often? Whirlpool support said drain the tank and put vinegar in an let sit for hours, is that worthwhile?
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| Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 07:52 pm |
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8th Post |
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elenano Member
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No, it's not that it takes some time to work. Whenever anybody says they soften well water, I don't even suggest they get the aluminum/zinc anode anymore, but just the powered one. So far, it has worked for everybody who has bought one, and it's vexing to first spend money on something that doesn't. Peroxide will work every time you use it but only until you're gone for a couple of days and the tank sits idle. Then it will return. If the smell is being caused by something in the bottom of the tank, the vinegar might do something, but I sort of doubt it. Usually the smell is caused by anaerobic bacteria that live in the water, not just in the tank, but in the ground. Still, if you try that, let us know how it comes out. Randy Schuyler
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| Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 08:26 pm |
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9th Post |
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blurhino Member
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Well, since I dont really want to fuss with the tank any more than I need to, I should seriously consider the powered anode. The obvious question is where to get one, and about how much are they? The one I saw online is $200+ which is just shy of what I paid for the tank. ! Any other sources?
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28th, 2009 04:07 pm |
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10th Post |
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tbou Member
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Not sure if anyone is still checking this thread.... I have a fairly new heater (electric) that started smelling after Hurr. Katrina (was left idle/unpowered for a couple of weeks). Hot water started smelling soon after we returned. I have temporarily "fixed" the problem by resetting the heater by shutting of the breaker and turning it back on. It has an electronic control on it and it is in the attic. Recently, this "fix" has stopped working. Any ideas on why it worked before and now it doesn't? I am going to try the peroxide as soon as temperatures come down here in south la.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28th, 2009 04:28 pm |
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11th Post |
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eleent Member
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Hello: If you now use the tank regularly and in has enough flow through it, the odor will likely not come back if you treat it with hydrogen peroxide. The odor is the result of a combination of things, like hard or softened water (which makes it more conductive), insufficient water flow through (which allows bacteria to build up) and a working anode, (made more active by the conductive water). No doubt that was a run on sentence, but hopefully useful  Other things like temperature and tank size are relevant also, but this is a start.Yours, Larry
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28th, 2009 08:38 pm |
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12th Post |
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Ej Member
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tbou wrote: I have temporarily "fixed" the problem by resetting the heater by shutting of the breaker and turning it back on. Was the water smelling or was it an electrical smell. Resetting the heater and the circuit breaker would have nothing to do with your water smelling???
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| Posted: Fri Jul 3rd, 2009 02:52 pm |
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13th Post |
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tbou Member
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Definitely not an electrical smell. My theory is: The electronics module is flaking due to power issues or something and one element stops heating. The water does seem to be hotter after resetting, even days after. And also the smell would go away. But weeks later the smell would come back. Beginning to think we don't use enough hot water. Just 2 in the house, showers every AM, dishwasher, clothes washer. I don't remember the size of tank i bought, could be a 40g. I did recently reduce the temp on the tank from 140. Gonna crank that back up to see if it changes anything.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27th, 2009 07:21 pm |
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14th Post |
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allasky Member
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Did cranking up the water temperature get rid of the smell?
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28th, 2009 06:30 am |
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15th Post |
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tbou Member
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Yes... I now have really hot water but it doesn't smell. although lately I have been smelling a slight, slight odor. Not sure why. It still may require a draining and then hydro peroxide. Side note: don't crank up the heat if you have little ones or little old ones in the house! Last edited on Tue Jul 28th, 2009 06:31 am by tbou |
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