Most dont sanitize water heater?

I have found from servicing home water heaters, that its the anode rod going bad that is the cause of the rotten egg smell.

For the first couple of years owning an RV, I skipped sanitizing the water water tank. Then about the third year, the hot water really stank. It took much use and several weeks to settle down again.

I also avoid taking my HW to maximum temperature. In fact I often set a timer for about 20 minutes which heats the water to a comfortable shower temperature. Then I just turn on HW and do not struggle adjusting the temperature. That approach is really bad for killing bugs so I now sanitize my complete system including the HW tank.

Very well could be!!! Good thinkin.

are you sure you aren't remembering that people say they don't run antifreeze into the water heater? just bypass it and let drain.
bumpy

On the back of the jetski there is a neat little water heater flush if anyone has meant to get one. Its possible to build for $1 if you get lucky and find the $1 nozzle at the 99c store. It has hose bib threads on the outlet. I would buy 5 more but my local 99c stopped carrying them. Moved to a plastic nozzle that is no good. I think home depot has something similar for like 5 bucks.

The hose is from a clothes washing machine. If you or a neighbor ever replaces their washing machine ask for 1 of the hoses. The install guys wont reuse the old hose and will be trash. Thats not bad is it? Say the hose is not drinkable safe. At least its only a small amount of water left at the bottom of the tank. I cant believe the amount of white flakes after about a year im guessing since i flushed last. Probably leave the heater dry after the sanitize.

Sweet thanks will run the mixture through the heater.

You sanitize ANY water heater tank a few times a year by running the fresh tank bleach mixture thru it. The anode rod is NOT a smell stopper. What happens is, the water gets old if the heater has sat for awhile. Or you have marginal water like from a well. That is where you get the rotten egg smell. When you fire up the WH and it has bad water inside that heat makes the egg smell worse. One thing---This smells almost like boiled dry batteries and some mistake this both ways. Doug

Running water with bleach through the water heater and it’s associated lines when sanitizing the fresh water system is SOP. While the heat may kill critters in the HW tank, it won’t in the HW lines. Further a rolling boil is needed to kill everything IMO. You don’t want your WH that hot.

I would think the extreme heat from heating the water would sanitize it. But, most just open up the kitchen hot faucet and run it for a few minutes to get the diluted bleach/water into the tank.