Sulfur odor from my water heater?
I have noticed a sulfur, or other strange odor from my hot water. Cold seems fine. Any ideas????
Forum Discussion
Do you have a Suburban Brand water heater...then anode rod could be problem.
Do you have an Atwood Brand water heater...then anode rod is NOT the problem (don't use anode rods).
Draining/flushing water heater should resolve the sulfur smell.
If not then you may need to treat it with a vinegar soak
FLUSHING YOUR WATER HEATER TO REMOVE
THE ROTTEN EGG ODOR
1. Turn off your main water supply. Drain you water heater tank. Reinstall drain plug. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve. With a funnel use 4 parts white vinegar to two parts water. (In a 6 gallon tank that would be 4 gallons vinegar to 2 gallons water).
2. Cycle the water heater, letting it run under normal operation 4-5 times. At no time do you remove the vinegar from the tank Once this has been completed, remove the drain plug and drain the water heater.
3. After thoroughly draining the tank, to remove the sediment, flush the water heater.
Fresh water should be pumped into the tank either with the onboard
pump or external water pressure.
Continue this flushing process for approximately five minutes allowing ample time for the fresh water to agitate the stagnant water on the bottom of the tank and forcing the deposits through the drain opening.
4. Upon completion of the steps above, replace the drain plug
5. Refill tank with fresh water that contains no sulfur.
Do you have an Atwood Brand water heater...then anode rod is NOT the problem (don't use anode rods).
Draining/flushing water heater should resolve the sulfur smell.
If not then you may need to treat it with a vinegar soak
FLUSHING YOUR WATER HEATER TO REMOVE
THE ROTTEN EGG ODOR
1. Turn off your main water supply. Drain you water heater tank. Reinstall drain plug. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve. With a funnel use 4 parts white vinegar to two parts water. (In a 6 gallon tank that would be 4 gallons vinegar to 2 gallons water).
2. Cycle the water heater, letting it run under normal operation 4-5 times. At no time do you remove the vinegar from the tank Once this has been completed, remove the drain plug and drain the water heater.
3. After thoroughly draining the tank, to remove the sediment, flush the water heater.
Fresh water should be pumped into the tank either with the onboard
pump or external water pressure.
Continue this flushing process for approximately five minutes allowing ample time for the fresh water to agitate the stagnant water on the bottom of the tank and forcing the deposits through the drain opening.
4. Upon completion of the steps above, replace the drain plug
5. Refill tank with fresh water that contains no sulfur.
