I've noticed the same issue with aluminum rods causing that odd smell initially. Had a client last year who was pretty concerned about it—thought something was seriously wrong with the heater. After reassuring them and waiting it out, the smell did fade after about two weeks. Still, it's something to keep in mind if you're switching rods. Aluminum-zinc definitely holds up better in softened water, but be prepared for a few puzzled calls from tenants at first...
"Had a client last year who was pretty concerned about it—thought something was seriously wrong with the heater."
Glad you mentioned this—I had the exact same worry when I swapped mine out. Thought I'd messed something up. Good to know it fades eventually... guess patience pays off.
I've been wondering about this too—does the rusty water thing always mean the heater's going bad, or could it just be sediment buildup? Mine's been acting up lately, and I'm debating whether to flush it out or just bite the bullet and replace it. Has anyone successfully extended their heater's life by doing regular flushes, or is that just delaying the inevitable...?
"Has anyone successfully extended their heater's life by doing regular flushes, or is that just delaying the inevitable...?"
Honestly, I've flushed mine a couple times hoping it'd buy me some extra years. It did help with the sediment, but the rust color kept creeping back after a few months. Eventually, I went tankless—best decision ever. No more rusty water roulette, and my energy bills dropped noticeably. Might be worth considering if you're already thinking replacement...
I've done the flush thing too, and yeah, it helps a bit short-term but never really fixed the issue for me either. Eventually, I just bit the bullet and replaced mine with a standard tank model (tankless was tempting but out of my budget at the time). Honestly, even going with a basic new heater made a huge difference—no more rust issues and way hotter showers. If yours is already showing rust regularly, might be better to start planning ahead rather than waiting for it to fail completely...
