Product Help

[BobD]

Is an aluminum or powered anode available for the GeoSpring Hybrid water heater?

[Lisa_at_GE]

Hello BobD,

This is Lisa with GE. That is a really good question.  I am going to check with our Resource Department.  It may take a few days.  I appreciate your patience and will get right back with you as soon as I get the information.

[BobD]

Thanks Lisa.  We would like to purchase a GeoSpring water heater but we know that we must replace the standard magnesium anode rod with either an aluminum anode rod or a powered anode rod.

[Angela_GE]

Hi Bob-   This is Angela from GE.  You can purchase an aluminum anode rod (part # AGHAA41) through our parts department 800-242-1333 option 4.  To access the existing magnesium rod, just remove the 4 screws around the shroud at the top of the unit.  There is a styrofoam cover over the anode rod.

Please let us know if we can help in any other way.  We hope you enjoy your new water heater and thank you for your purchase!

Angela

[JudMelBch]

Just curious, why do you have to switch from a magnesium anode to an Aluminum anode?

[Angela_GE]

Hello-  This is Angela from GE.  It is not necessary to change from a magnesium to an aluminum anode rod.  The replacement rod is intended to address a sulfur smell which may develop from certain water supplies with high sulfate content.  I hope this answers your question.  Thanks,

Angela

[BobD]

Anode rods in hot water tanks are considered "sacrificail".  When a hot watrer tank is filled an electrolytic process occurs such that the sacrificial anode is consumed to protect a small amount of exposed steel inside the tank.  In certain conditions (private wells) impurities in the water react with a magnesium anode, resulting in a sulfer or rotten egg like smell.  By replacing the magnesium anode rod with an aluminum anode rod, no smell is produced.  In my old tank I replace the magnesium rod with an aluminum rod and the smell completely disappeared.  As any anode rod is "sacrificial", I check/replace every couple of years.