Conversely, where the water conductivity is high, an excessive amount of current is produced with inefficient operation. This will sacrifice the anode sooner than predicted and require more frequent replacement.
In addition, some of these waters have excessive sulfate content along with various strains of sulfate reducing bacteria *. These bacteria, harmless to health, will grow in the presence of the highly active magnesium anode rod and using the hydrogen ion from the anode-cathode reaction, will produce hydrogen sulfide gas. The gas smells like rotten eggs.
You just proved my point.
Fact... SRB doesn't "grow" because of the type of rod used.
They "grow" based on the amount of sulfates in the water. Sulfates is their food source. Without sulfates in the water, there will not be enough viable SRB to use a hydrogen ion from the anode rod to create H2S gas.
Recall that H2S is hydrogen sulFIDE, not sulFATE. So how do we get SULFIDE out of SULFATE without the bacteria to convert it?
Also remember that H2S is a gas that is dissolved into the water. So how do we get sulFIDE in the tank?
Not too many years ago the water heater industry was not mentioning SRB, sulfates, TDS/conductivity or anything but the type of rod.
Without the quality of water being capable of creating the proper environment, like high TDS (conductivity), sulfates and THEN Sulfate Reducing Bacteria, a water heater tank and its anode rod does not create H2S (or other odors).
As I said, SRB must be present to get H2S from certain types of anode rods.
Meaning that your comment is not true;
Originally Posted by
ballvalve
All water heaters make gas when they sit long enough due to the anode.
While engaging in a debate with you is generally a regrettable and futile event, since you asked for a specific bit of education, I will provide it.
Above is one of thousands of quotes detailing how magnesium anodes produce hydrogen sulfide gas in otherwise innocuous water, especially over time of non use.
LOL that's because you can't comprehend what they say!!
Go get a new magnesium rod and smell it, it will not smell of rotten eggs. Smell air out of a new never used water heater and smell it, it won't smell of H2S.
H2S odor in a water heater only happens IF sulfates are in the water along with SRB to create the H2S rotten egg odor. Remove the rod or replace with a different type that prevents the bacteria from getting a hydrogen ion off it and there is no H2S.
No H2S odor UNLESS there is naturally occurring H2S gas in the raw water going into the water heater.
You can not get rid of that H2S odor without filtering out the H2S prior to the water heater.
Raising the temp of a water heater to 140f for an hour kills one of the causes of the odor because it kills the bacteria responsible for creating the odor. Filter out the sulfates and no SRB so no odor. Reduce the TDS content of the water and no H2S.
I hope that's clear enough for you. Thanks for demonstrating why this forum devolves into arguments.
Here is a service bulletin from bradford white. Many explosions have occured from this gas. Seems to me a "water quality expert" should be aware of this.
Water heater tanks are typically constructed of steel with a porcelain enamel (glass) lining. Due to production and assembly methods it is not always possible to obtain complete coverage of the steel tank. Therefore, it’s necessary to provide a different metal (anode) to inhibit corrosion of the tank (cathode). The anode supplies electrons to the cathode and releases positive hydrogen ions and positive metal ions to the water. Release of the positive ions make the anode appear to dissolve which is a planned and expected situation. Consequently, the anode is frequently referred to as a “sacrificial rod.†Electrons travel to the cathode and combine with the hydrogen positive ions to eventually form H2 gas.. (Gary; That is flat worng and any highschoool chemistry student can confirm it. If you disagree explain where the S part of H2S comes from electrons.) No metal is lost at the cathode as it is protected by the anode. Due to generation of hydrogen ions at the anode, it is possible for hydrogen gas to form (Gary; not true) which is explosive and warnings are placed on every unit, including the installation instructions, to alert homeowners about the danger of flames near the water outlet.
See my Gary comments in red in the quote.
Get in touch with the web site you got that from and go back to the guy/gal that wrote it and ask them to prove their statement by asking; where does the S part of H2S come from?
If you still have doubts, let your water heater sit for one year, bacteria or not, and put your head in the sink with a candle near the outlet. Have your next of kin send me a letter of thanks for the warning.
I hope I have adequately addressed your "impossibility"
Nope, see above, it is the water quality in the water heater, not the rod or water heater tank as you claimed.