Rotten water update

Called the TruValue store local where I bought it, and spoke to their service. They gave me the 800 number for Reliance Corp.Spoke to their technical service this am. He said it was a bacteria problem not a heater problem. He said my 6 year model had a $8 slum anode. The better models have the $45 rod. He would not send me one for free.
Called local hdwe guy, good guy, he said, pull the anode, cut it off and I will warrantee your heater for the 6 years.
So it's done and I'll see if the stink goes away l, I am going to run the hot water down the drain for half an hour.
I wouldn't recommend Reliance heaters after this fiasco.
Thanks guys for the help.

Short term fix, The anode rods are in there for a reason.

Just an FYI that I responded to your earlier post.

Gordo,
Some folks suggest an aluminum rod as most all heaters come with magnesium, well it didn’t work for me aluminum lasted 4 months and smell came back, pulled rod and smell gone. Since my current heater was the 4th heater since we moved into newly built house in 2004, all covered under warranty at no cost to me. Plumber said that the rods corroded very quickly and then the tanks go away. Even draining the tanks every 6 months didn’t help on any of them. After replacing many rods (most lasting 6 to 8 months before the smell comes back), I finally found an electric device (low voltage) on line (Google – smelly water) that has a titanium wire that has been in the current heater for more than a year and still looks new, although a bit pricey $247.00 but doesn’t void the warranty and no smell. Hoping this extends the life as I have tried everything.
I would have liked a tankless however I don’t have enough voltage to power one since I have a ground source heat pump for heat and A/C, so the electricians tell me. Wish I would have gone with 400amp service for the house. My have to further investigate this solution eventually.

Mike

I don't remember the brand of ours,seems like American something. Made in Tennessee anyway. We got the same response from them almost word for word,so I don't know what other brand you'd go to?

I am confused, you bought the economy model of something, then expect the company to ship you parts from the up-level model for free.

They won't, so you won't recommend them, and consider it a fiasco.

If you have gas in your area I would switch to gas. The last Sears water heater lasted 19 years and had a 20 year warranty. They replaced the heater free and told me this water heater will be replaced free if I keep the Survivor water heater receipt from the old heater. Hal

Marathon heaters, fiberglass, expensive but worth it.

Paul

I had the same problem with a new water heater. After chlorine shocking the well, which helped for a while; new aluminum anode; I ended up pulling the anode and plugging the hole. No more smell. That was ten years ago and the hearter seems to be doing great.

To prevent the water from rusting out.

I had a similar problem couple of years ago. My case was bacteria and I had to chlorinate to get rid of it. Easy fix at least.

That rotten smell comes from a iron sulphur bacteria. Chlorine will help it but won't eliminate it. It comes back

My son's house water had that smell problem but we did not and both of us use the same well. We put a chlorinator on the well and that solved the problem. Jim

I expect even the economy model to perform to the minimum specs. This one wouldn't. Why build something that will not heat water with out a terrible smell.
He would NOT stipulate that the 45 dollar anode would solve the problem.

The "problem" is with your water, not the heater, so why would you expect them to supply free parts to fix a problem caused by your bad water ????

(quoted from post at 14:15:17 10/12/13) I expect even the economy model to perform to the minimum specs. This one wouldn't. Why build something that will not heat water with out a terrible smell.
He would NOT stipulate that the 45 dollar anode would solve the problem.

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Local well drillers here say that Manganese is the cause of the odor, and you will have stinky water regardless of what the anode rod is made of.

I have 9 years on my water heaters without anodes. I have pans and drains connected to them. When they go, I plan on purchasing Marathons (fiberglass tank).

Rick