It could be that it needs replacing or something else that needs attention altogether. Get the sacrificial anode rod checked immediately if weird or foul odors start coming from the unit. It smells like sulfur or rotten eggs: Bacteria growing in or around a water heater will start to smell. Unusual sounds from the unit indicate deterioration. At that time, the tank starts taking the brunt of the sediment accumulation and corrosion. Loud noises or popping sounds occur while heating: An anode rod that needs replacement would have fully corroded. Some signs of a broken or bad anode rod are: The sacrificial anode rod rusts inside the water heater tank. When to replace the sacrificial anode rod We recommend adding it to your annual plumbing inspection, so it doesn't get missed or forgotten. Check the anode rod every two years to prevent an expensive repair bill. This system requires preventative maintenance to ensure the longevity of a traditional water heating unit. Regularly check your water heater anode rod Metal anode options are interchangeable, so it is possible to use an aluminum rod, then a zinc rod, and so on based on the needs of your home. If a sulfur smell comes from a water heater, switching to a zinc anode rod should rid the tank of odors and unwanted bacteria. Zinc: Zinc sacrificial anode rods help remove bacteria from the water tank. It also suggests it will need replacing more frequently to prevent damage to the water heater. The magnesium anode works the best, meaning it will rust more than the other metal alternatives. Magnesium: Most commonly used, magnesium anode rods protect hot water tanks from soft water corrosion. This action prevents the tank from being further eroded from the harsh minerals. In conventional gas and electric water heaters, there are three common types of metal used in sacrificial anode rods:ДЄluminum: Most American homes have hard water, so plumbers use an aluminum anode rod to draw the calcium and magnesium to the rod. The metal anode rod draws minerals present in the water via an electrochemical process by oxidizing faster than the metal of the water heater tank it is protecting. There is a lot to know about water heater sacrificial rods, from how they work to detecting if they need replacing, and we will discuss those details here: How does a sacrificial anode rod work? Conventional water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod, while tankless systems do not. Without this innovative device, the water heater's metal would crumble and stop working very early on. The sacrificial anode rod draws the corrosive material in your water heater away from the tank and to itself as a 'sacrifice.' The anode rod corrodes itself rather than the metal tank adding a longer lifespan to traditional water heaters. Corrosion is the chemical reaction between metal and water in the presence of oxygen.

Anode rod water heater smell