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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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Propane hot water heater "anode rod" ?
My son just bought an old house which has a 16 year old propane water
heater. The cold water seems fine but there is a "rotten egg" smell which comes from the hot water. He was told that the "anode rod" is probably at fault. Does anyone know what this is, how it works and if it is replaceable? My own hot water heater is electric and we've had it for 27 years, which is admittedly longer than most last but we have very good water here. I think that he does too as I saw no evidence in his house of calcium build up or rust stains anywhere. I know 16 years is possibly stretching it on an appliance like this but they hardly have a nickle left after the home purchase and anything that we can repair we would like to. Thanks. Lenny Stein, Barlen Electronics. |
#2
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Sounds like the heating element in an electric hot water heater. Unless it
is some kind of thermostat. wrote in message ups.com... My son just bought an old house which has a 16 year old propane water heater. The cold water seems fine but there is a "rotten egg" smell which comes from the hot water. He was told that the "anode rod" is probably at fault. Does anyone know what this is, how it works and if it is replaceable? My own hot water heater is electric and we've had it for 27 years, which is admittedly longer than most last but we have very good water here. I think that he does too as I saw no evidence in his house of calcium build up or rust stains anywhere. I know 16 years is possibly stretching it on an appliance like this but they hardly have a nickle left after the home purchase and anything that we can repair we would like to. Thanks. Lenny Stein, Barlen Electronics. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.802 / Virus Database: 545 - Release Date: 11/26/04 |
#3
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"Mike Kennedy" writes:
Sounds like the heating element in an electric hot water heater. Unless it is some kind of thermostat. No, it is the sacrificial galvanic magnesium rod used to miminize the corrosion of the steel tank. http://popularmechanics.com/home_imp...water_heaters/ --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive traffic on Repairfaq.org. Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header is ignored. To contact me, please use the Feedback Form in the FAQ wrote in message ups.com... My son just bought an old house which has a 16 year old propane water heater. The cold water seems fine but there is a "rotten egg" smell which comes from the hot water. He was told that the "anode rod" is probably at fault. Does anyone know what this is, how it works and if it is replaceable? My own hot water heater is electric and we've had it for 27 years, which is admittedly longer than most last but we have very good water here. I think that he does too as I saw no evidence in his house of calcium build up or rust stains anywhere. I know 16 years is possibly stretching it on an appliance like this but they hardly have a nickle left after the home purchase and anything that we can repair we would like to. Thanks. Lenny Stein, Barlen Electronics. |
#4
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stated:
My son just bought an old house which has a 16 year old propane water heater. The cold water seems fine but there is a "rotten egg" smell which comes from the hot water. He was told that the "anode rod" is probably at fault. Does anyone know what this is, how it works and if it is replaceable? My own hot water heater is electric and we've had it for 27 years, which is admittedly longer than most last but we have very good water here. I think that he does too as I saw no evidence in his house of calcium build up or rust stains anywhere. I know 16 years is possibly stretching it on an appliance like this but they hardly have a nickle left after the home purchase and anything that we can repair we would like to. Thanks. Lenny Stein, Barlen Electronics. The 'Anode Rod' is a metal rod, made of aluminum or magnesium around a steel wire, which is a softer metal that will sacrificially corrode faster than the other metal parts on the water heater. The rod is in all water heaters and should be replaced before they corrode too far and break off in the tank. You should see a steel nipple screwed into the tank on the top. Shut the water off to the tank and bleed off pressure in the tank, then carefully unscrew the nipple and remove it. The rod is attached to the nipple. Take it to a plumbing store to get a replacement. It can be removed to eliminate the rotten egg smell but it can/will shorten the useful life of your heater. Since this heater has had a prolonged life the rod seems to have done it's job. Replacing the rod may well cure the smell problem. Good luck, -- Robotron Tom *remove nospam to email* See the Flashback Arcade at: http:// www.arcadeguy.net Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. -M. Smith |
#5
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"Sam Goldwasser" wrote in message ... "Mike Kennedy" writes: Sounds like the heating element in an electric hot water heater. Unless it is some kind of thermostat. No, it is the sacrificial galvanic magnesium rod used to miminize the corrosion of the steel tank. http://popularmechanics.com/home_imp...water_heaters/ And they're readily available and not horribly expensive. The only snag you may run into is that there's sometimes not enough ceiling clearance above the water heater to replace it. In that case you need to disconnect the plumbing, drain the tank, and tip the whole unit out a bit. |
#6
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"Robotron Tom" wrote in message ... stated: My son just bought an old house which has a 16 year old propane water heater. The cold water seems fine but there is a "rotten egg" smell which comes from the hot water. He was told that the "anode rod" is probably at fault. Does anyone know what this is, how it works and if it is replaceable? My own hot water heater is electric and we've had it for 27 years, which is admittedly longer than most last but we have very good water here. I think that he does too as I saw no evidence in his house of calcium build up or rust stains anywhere. I know 16 years is possibly stretching it on an appliance like this but they hardly have a nickle left after the home purchase and anything that we can repair we would like to. Thanks. Lenny Stein, Barlen Electronics. The 'Anode Rod' is a metal rod, made of aluminum or magnesium around a steel wire, which is a softer metal that will sacrificially corrode faster than the other metal parts on the water heater. The rod is in all water heaters and should be replaced before they corrode too far and break off in the tank. You should see a steel nipple screwed into the tank on the top. Shut the water off to the tank and bleed off pressure in the tank, then carefully unscrew the nipple and remove it. The rod is attached to the nipple. Take it to a plumbing store to get a replacement. It can be removed to eliminate the rotten egg smell but it can/will shorten the useful life of your heater. Since this heater has had a prolonged life the rod seems to have done it's job. Replacing the rod may well cure the smell problem. The manual for my water heater says that an aluminum rod can be used in place of a zinc rod to eliminate the smell, apparently it's not as effective but better than nothing. |
#7
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James Sweet stated:
"Robotron Tom" wrote in message ... stated: the useful life of your heater. Since this heater has had a prolonged life the rod seems to have done it's job. Replacing the rod may well cure the smell problem. The manual for my water heater says that an aluminum rod can be used in place of a zinc rod to eliminate the smell, apparently it's not as effective but better than nothing. Yes, I meant to add that he should use aluminum for a replacement to help alleviate the smell. -- Robotron Tom *remove nospam to email* See the Flashback Arcade at: http:// www.arcadeguy.net Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. -M. Smith |
#8
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When we installed a water softener 25 years ago, the advice was to remove the
annode rod. I removed the pipe nipple on the top of the heater and cut the rod off. No rotten egg smell, nor leaks, nor replacement of the water heater. |
#9
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"WbSearch" wrote in message ... When we installed a water softener 25 years ago, the advice was to remove the annode rod. I removed the pipe nipple on the top of the heater and cut the rod off. No rotten egg smell, nor leaks, nor replacement of the water heater. How long has it been? It won't fail instantly, but it will corrode out over time. Water in some areas is much easier on the tank than others and some tanks are made much better too. |
#10
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"James Sweet" wrote in message news:slLtd.25$lZ6.14@trnddc02... | How long has it been? It won't fail instantly, but it will corrode out over | time. Water in some areas is much easier on the tank than others and some | tanks are made much better too. Soft water is good, as are glass lined tanks. N |
#11
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"James Sweet" bravely wrote to "All" (08 Dec 04 18:19:56)
--- on the heady topic of " Propane hot water heater "anode rod" ?" JS From: "James Sweet" JS . The only JS snag you may run into is that there's sometimes not enough ceiling JS clearance above the water heater to replace it. In that case you need JS to disconnect the plumbing, drain the tank, and tip the whole unit out JS a bit. If you saw PBS "Ask This Old House" the other week the plumbling expert showed a rod for low ceilings that came in sections held together by either a chain, rings, or a metal cable, not sure which now. But it avoided having to empty the tank to tip it. BTW I don't recall if he used teflon on the thread. Would that make sense or it wouldn't matter? A*s*i*m*o*v .... I worked hard to attach the electrodes to it. |
#12
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"Asimov" wrote in message ... If you saw PBS "Ask This Old House" the other week the plumbling expert showed a rod for low ceilings that came in sections held together by either a chain, rings, or a metal cable, not sure which now. But it avoided having to empty the tank to tip it. BTW I don't recall if he used teflon on the thread. Would that make sense or it wouldn't matter? I suspect Teflon might negate the electrical path that handles the corrosion. N |
#13
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"NSM" writes:
"Asimov" wrote in message ... If you saw PBS "Ask This Old House" the other week the plumbling expert showed a rod for low ceilings that came in sections held together by either a chain, rings, or a metal cable, not sure which now. But it avoided having to empty the tank to tip it. BTW I don't recall if he used teflon on the thread. Would that make sense or it wouldn't matter? I suspect Teflon might negate the electrical path that handles the corrosion. Shouldn't matter as the Teflon flows and the joint has at least some metal-metal contact. --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive traffic on Repairfaq.org. Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header is ignored. To contact me, please use the Feedback Form in the FAQs. |
#14
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"Sam Goldwasser" wrote in message ... | "NSM" writes: | I suspect Teflon might negate the electrical path that handles the | corrosion. | | Shouldn't matter as the Teflon flows and the joint has at least | some metal-metal contact. I hate to take chances like that. Better to use plumbers' compound IMO. N |
#15
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Thanks everyone ! My son's gone down to the supply company to look at
replacements. This was a huge help. Best to everyone. Lenny Stein, Barlen Electronics |
#16
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On Wednesday, 08 Dec 2004 22:35:38 -500 "Asimov"
wrote: If you saw PBS "Ask This Old House" the other week the plumbling expert showed a rod for low ceilings that came in sections held together by either a chain, rings, or a metal cable, not sure which now. But it avoided having to empty the tank to tip it. I need to go looking for one of those.... BTW I don't recall if he used teflon on the thread. Would that make sense or it wouldn't matter? It wouldn't matter. The teflon doesn't prevent electrical contact. It just shreds and fills all the voids. - ----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney Madison, WI 53711 USA ----------------------------------------------- |
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