Water from water heater has a strange odor

Well, I put bleach in the tank but now, when I turn on the pump, I get a thump,thump,thump sound. Is that air in the line and how do I get rid of that noise?

Thanks for all the suggestions. I did not notice this problem until I flushed the waterheater and used a wand to get the gunk out. Now, I will try the bleach.

There is a sulfur concentrating bacteria that gives it a Rotten Egg odor.

THe solution is to sanatize as per normal procedure.. Flush it out (As suggested above) first. then 1/4 cup bleach to 15 gallons of water and pump it into the Water Heater. Might as well do the rest of the system while at it.

Follow that (at least on the cold side) with 1/2 cup baking soda in a full tank of water (Dissolve in a bucket first, may take multiple tries)

Then a clear water flush

Then you are good to go.

Thank you.
All these years I didn't know they sold a water heater cleaning wand!

downtheroad wrote:
Kunk in the water heater tank. When was the last time you drained it and flushed it out?

Pick up one of these:

Where did you get this from? What is it called?

I want one! :C

I had that happen once. Bleach didn't solve the issue, had to pour a baking soda slurry in to finally get rid of it. Had some bad water (well water) and it sat for a couple months when my wife was too sick to camp. Ever since that trip, we drain the water heater every single trip. I just open my low point drains and open the pressure relief valve on the water heater as we drive away. Everything drains out, haven't had an issue since then.

If it is an Atwood WH they recommend in their manual to use vinegar to remove the smell. They recommend removing the relief valve and pouring the vinegar in and letting it set for a while then flush. If you don't mind spending a little extra money on vinegar and don't want to remove the valve you can just pump it in through the winterizing connection after draining it and reinstalling the plug.

I always like doing a 'power flush' when draining WH Tank so really blow out the crud in bottom of tank.

Turn water source OFF
Remove drain plug
Stand back...turn water supply on FULL and let it BLAST out the drain hole
Cold water inlet DIP Tube points DOWN ss water really churns up the bottom with drain open

Wand is good for spraying up/rinsing down walls but it obstructs draining cause it is stuck in thru drain hole

Frank55 wrote:
Drained tank earlier this year. I also replace anode rod. Might try another type.

Drained the tank, but did you flush the sediment out of the tank after draining it? Sediment from a deteriorated anode rode and naturally occurring minerals that are in the water.