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| Anode Missing? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 3rd, 2012 11:05 pm |
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1st Post |
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mixinguiness Member
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Hey all, I am having problems with water smell, I am softened and have an electric 50 gallon hot water heater. I pulled the cap for the anode tonight and there was nothing attached. There are 2 plastic caps (the water heater is 5 years old) but only one anode nut. It came out and nothing was atached. I want to put in a powered anode but Should I try and fish this one out first? Where do I start? Thanks
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| Posted: Sat Feb 4th, 2012 05:02 am |
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2nd Post |
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elenano Member 
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If all that is left of the anode is the hex nut, you have greater problems to worry about than the odor. It means your softener has consumed the anode and is working on the inside of your water heater. A powered anodel could solve the odor issue, and MIGHT save the tank, but there is a good chance it won't. No anode at all means the tank is pretty far gone. I don't think I'd risk it. Also, by rights, if there is no anode left, there shouldn't be any odor, either. Does it smell at every tap or just some taps? If not everywhere, then it's not the water heater. If you replace the heater and still have odor, then think about a powered anode. Randy Schuyler Last edited on Sat Feb 4th, 2012 05:04 am by elenano |
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| Posted: Mon Feb 6th, 2012 11:51 am |
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3rd Post |
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mixinguiness Member
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It smells the worst in the master shower. The master bath is the most used and first in line for the hot water. I can smell it at the other taps, but just not as potent. I thought the same thing that if the anode is missing then it shouldn't smell... but then I thought what if it corroded from the top and fell in the bottom of the tank? I have bleach shocked my well twice and it works for a few weeks, then the smell comes back again. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to replace the heater as it is only 5 years old. Shouldn't I be able to get another anode in it and have an attempt to save it?
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| Posted: Mon Feb 6th, 2012 05:03 pm |
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4th Post |
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elenano Member
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You can certainly try. The only thing is, any sacrificial anode is probably going to make odor, and the powered anode is an expensive way to go on such an iffy tank. If you buy it and the heater rusts out, you can move it to the replacement, provided that the new one is as deep as the old one. The electrode on the powered anode has to be stretched out to about the depth of the heater it goes in, and once done, it can't be unstretched for a shallower heater. Meanwhile, try pouring some bleach down the drain of the master bath and see if that makes a difference. If the rest of the anode is on the bottom of the heater, it won't cause odor there. It's not corroding anode that makes odor. It's electrolytically corroding anode. Once it's no longer connected to the heater steel, it's no longer an anode and doesn't behave the same way. Randy Schuyler
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