Removing anode rods

Alan_6

Is it a bad idea to remove anode rods, for stinky water?
Does the bleach method really work, if you catch it early enough? I have always told customers, there is no guarantee, that the rod will come out, or the smell will go away. If the bleach method works. What is the procedure?

EJW

Anodes

It depends on what kind of heater it is as to the ease of removal. I've never heard of using bleach, but if the water stinks the rod is toast anyway. Drain & flush the tank then replace the rod. If there is still a trace of smell it will go away shortly. EJW

lchmb

if

If this water heater is on a treated system it could be that you need to change the type of anode rod...

Larry Weingarten

odor

Hello: It's OK to replace the anode with a less active one to help fight odor, but not OK simply to remove it. That will void any warranty. There is a special anode made for odor. It's aluminum with about 8% zinc. Try using hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach in the tank. It will not need to be rinsed out. Use 1-2 pints per 40 gallons of storage. Then make sure plenty of hot water is used daily to keep the tank flushed. I think A O Smith used to have a nice tech sheet on just how the odor is created.

Weezbo

its thier water , not the water heater.

chlorinating the water and lines clears the house lines and the power to the water heater needs to be turned off. chlorine will trash an anode too. i dont know how to explain chlorinating the lines if i am not the one doing it. however i give it a try...go to the kitchen sink and get a glass of cold water after running it for a couple mins. put it on the window sill get another glass of cold water and put a few drops of bleach in it. go to a bath tub and run the water on the hot side funtill it is hot get a glass of water and put it on the counter top get another and put a few drops of bleach in it.
always put the bleach glass on the right that way you remember what is.
go turn the water heater off.valve it off. turn the pump off . if you have deep well then you have more stuff to do.
shallow well its easier. i stop for a breather and ask you from whence comes the water supply? muni, deep well, shallow well, or tank.? i will almost bet it is a deep well.

Weezbo

look under DEEP WELL CHLORINATION

on Google search select the second one down.