Hot Water Heater Rod (house, move, installing)

[Florida or Bust....]

I am on well water. I have a water treatment system for the sulfur and a water softner. My new hot water tank has a magnesium anode rod and my hot water smells like rotten eggs. I turned up the heat to 140 degrees to kill the sulfur bacteria and I still have the smell. This tells me its the rod.

I have talked to my water guy and he says to take out the rod completely. I know this voids the warranty and maybe affect the life of the water tank. I suggested to him to replace with an aluminum/zinc or a powered anode rod and his response was they do not work all the time, that is why he does not offer them. He said he would be happy to take care of my issue when the other rod does not work and he won't tell me he told me so.

Do I replace the rod? What type? or Do I completely remove the rod? or is there another alternative.

[MartyGras]

magnesium anode is there to keep your hot water heater from corroding and I don't believe will have any affect on the sulfur smell you're getting.

Magnesium is a less Noble metal then either aluminum or zink.

Magnesium is definitely the metal to use in a freshwater application.

As an example the sacrificial anodes used on boats ( commonly called zincs) are magnesium in freshwater Application and zinc in a saltwater application.

Ask your warrantee I can't imagine that replacing the anode would void the warranty.

If it were my house I would look at installing an in-line UV sanitizer, The problem is there's bacteria in your water and that's where the smells is coming from.



Gary

[WyoNewk]

Here's a link that might answer some of your questions:
Solving rotten-egg odor in water heaters