Water Heater anode and water softner?

Friend called, water heater is leaking, needs new one. He picks up water heater. Went over Sunday after noon to help install it. Friend complains his water heater doesn't last very long.

After we got the new one installed I asked what temp do you set heater at? He didn't know, so I took the cover off old heater to look at thermostat. That's when I discovered rust all over his top element. Not sure if element rusted out or the threads on tank rusted out.

Then he tells me they have to remove the anode
because the water softner makes his well water stink.

This is the first time I've worked on a water heater that someone removed the anode. Anodes are installed in water heaters to prevent rust.

So, what good is having a softner? Yes I know it removes lime, but in 6 years you have a leak.

I told friend not to pitch old water heater. It
may be possible just the element rusted out.

Friend said his other water heater only lasted about 6 years too.

How long do you water heaters last when you remove anode?

Wondering if it's possible his softner is putting too much salt in the water causing rust. What do you think friend should do?
George

Water softner does not put salt in the water, it circulates brine water through the resin tank to remove contaminates from the resin. If it is putting salt in the water, it has a problem. I am guessing your friend has a sulphur problem, hence stinky water. Sulphur requires a special professional softener to remove. I have a softner and get normal to above average life from a heater, current one is 12 years old, previous one was here when we got here, as was the softner.

Until I installed a water softener I changed water heaters every few years. I have not changed a water heater or even an element since installing a water heater 21 years ago.

The anode may in fact affect the scent of your friends well water but it has nothing to do with his water softener.

Dean

I think most water softeners will leave the water slightly salty after a regeneration, for a short time.

My last water heater lasted 19 years before it started to leak. I probably should've drained a few gallons of water from the bottom. Sears replaced the water heater free of charge. The old heater was their Survivor heaters with a 20 year warranty. They're NG water heaters. Hal

Where could I buy a replacement anode for a water heater?

Softeners do put sodium in the water.

Salt-based water softening works on the principle of ion exchange or ion replacement, a reversible process. (Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that can lose or gain electrons in water and therefore have an electrical charge.) Calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions in the hard water are replaced with sodium ions (Na+) during the reversible ion-replacement reactions, as sodium ions leave the ion-exchange resin (or beads, or a chemical matrix called zeolite) and go into water, while calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water are bound to the resin or beads. Essentially, the ions switched places during water softening: sodium from resin matrix migrate into the water, and calcium and magnesium move from water to attach to the resin matrix. The resin or bead matrix is itself inert and does not participate in the chemical reaction, and its physical structure is not changed during water softening.

When all the sodium in the resin or beads matrix have been replaced with calcium and magnesium, then the resin in the exchange chamber is "full" and cannot perform any more water-softening reactions and therefore needs to go through a process called regeneration. During regeneration, salt (sodium chloride) is added to the exchanger chamber; the high level of salt displaces the calcium and magnesium ions and replaces them with sodium. After regeneration, the resins or beads can soften more hard water.

For most healthy people, the amount of added sodium in the softened water poses no health problems. However, for people who are hypertensive (have high blood pressure) and must live on a low-sodium diet or a sodium-restricted diet, the sodium in the softened water can be hazardous to people's health.

Are There Health Problems Caused by Water Softening?
[b:73bde9df13]Water Softeners Do Add Sodium to Tap Water[/b:73bde9df13]

A recent article in the local paper dealt with sulphur smell in hot water. The solution was replacing the magnesium anode with a zinc anode.

I would think you could get a replacement anode from a plumbing supply house.

The manual that comes with a water heater typically shows where to locate the anode, often a part # for an alternative part, and probably a phone # to call to buy one.

You can order an aluminum anode from Home Depot online. Free shipping if you have it shipped to the local store and pick it up there. They are also available from Amazon.

Comes in 48" length; just trim off some if it is too long for your water heater. The anodes will last varying amounts of time depending on when the anode gets eaten up. Check at least every 2 years to get an idea of the rate of decomposition
so you will know when to replace it the next time.

AL is recommended as being better than magnesium IF you have really hard water. When the anode gets all eaten up, then the water will start to rust the other components. The water softener has nothing to do with causing rust inside the tank.

The salt water used in the regeneration process of a water softener is pumped out through the drain line for disposal and does not enter the water heater.

If your concerned about sodium in soft water switch to
potassium chloride. Adds potassium to the water.

In the process of ion exchange the sodium and chloride ions
are separated. The chloride goes down the drain.

As a Master Plumber that started out with the Lindsay Co in
the mid 70's I've installed thousands of systems personally
and overseen the installation and service of 10's of thousands.
I do not believe sodium in soft water creates any corrosion.
The corrosion I have seen is created by electrolysis, dissimilar
metals reacting to each other.

In the case of a water heater you have dissimilar metals in
addition to electricity. An anode rod should not be removed.

If you can afford the additional initial cost, go with a Rheem Marathon. All fiberglass tank, no anode. All wetted parts are stainless or copper, and it uses standard elements, thermostats, and safety valve.

I just put one in, found it on Ebay for $600. They have lifetime warranty, so I shouldn't have to worry about it again.

MHO, the new water heaters are just not the same quality anymore, especially buying them from Lowes or HD.

(quoted from post at 08:05:14 05/12/14) I think most water softeners will leave the water slightly salty after a regeneration, for a short time.

Click to expand...

ot if they are working properly. I used to work for an appliance shop that also sold softeners many years ago.

My heater is 25+ years old and in that time my total maintenance has been one element, which was caused by a bad thermostat. We have a lot of lime in the water here, but the softener works wonders.