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Broken anode rod?

zepfan
zepfan Member Posts: 411
in Plumbing

Would a broken anode rod cause massive amounts of air to come out only on the hot side of fixtures? A customer has a home with a heat pump water heater, on a well. There is no issue with air on the cold side, only on the hot side. There doesn't appear to be any visual leaks and with the home being on a well I could see where the rod could be rotted out. Thanks to all

Comments

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,630

    Hi, A few things affect how active an anode is, and how much gas it produces. There needs to be some sacrificial metal left on the rod. Magnesium and aluminum are the common metals uses in water heaters. Magnesium is more active and capable of producing more gas. Mag anodes usually have a weld bump in the middle of the hex head. Rheem is the only manufacturer whose mag anodes have a flat head. Really conductive water, like over-softened water can force anodes to produce a lot of gas. Softening down to zero grains of hardness can completely use up an anode in six months.

    The anode must be electrically connected to the tank to work. If it's broken off, it will do next to nothing. What do you see that tells you the anode is broken? Do you know the age of the tank and/or have any info on water quality from the well?

    Yours, Larry

    ps. The tank is a good place for air to accumulate, while there isn't usually any such place in the cold side. Is there anything about the pressure side of the well equipment that could be adding air to the system?🤔

    zepfanIntplm.
  • zepfan
    zepfan Member Posts: 411

    Thanks so much for taking the time for such a detailed response. The homeowners are new so I don't know much about the water quality, but I was going to recommend they have it tested.

    I will have to look at the pump, it is mounted in the basement so it should be easy to see if there is an issue

    thanks again

  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 792

    With a well you can get air in if there is a check valve and a leak in the supply pipe. When the pump is off the check valve holds the pressure inside the house but once all the water leaks out of the supply pipe air gets in. When the pump kicks back on again the air gets pushed into the house. It could just be that the water heater is where the air accumulates.

    Or it could be that it's not air at all, but gas being produced by chemical reaction with the anode.

    zepfan
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,190

    If the pump is located in the basement, it is probably a shallow well jet — and if it is, it has a foot valve, and if that has failed every time it starts it will bring in a good bit of air (and it's a wonder if it doesn't lose prime…). The hot water tank is, as @Larry Weingarten said, a splendid place for that air to accumulate…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Larry Weingarten
  • zepfan
    zepfan Member Posts: 411

    Thanks to all that responded to this post. I finally made it back to the home today, and while the water heater is only two years old (Electric heat pump model) the anode rod was completely deteriorated . It had like a white foam all over it, and was broke in several places. I replaced it and that seems to have taken care of the air issue for now. The homeowner was going to have the water checked, and treated. Thanks again and take care all

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