Best Solution I have found to eliminate bad odors from you hot water heater. When you smell an odor of what many people call a sewer smell, it is most likely coming from you hot water heater. It doesn’t seem to affect everyone, but some of us are not so lucky. It’s a distasteful smell, but classified as only a nuisance.
Here is the best way I found to but a stop to it. All last year I was one that experienced it over and over. At first, I thought putting chlorine into the water tank and allowing it to kill the smell, would solve the problem. It did for awhile but when it kept coming back, I continued to look for a solution that may solve it for at least a while. I found that chlorine isn’t the total solution, what worked best was using hydrogen peroxide. So, I got a gallon of medical grade hydrogen peroxide, that I found at Menards, which to use. Following are the steps I took. It takes a little work and patience, but this has seemed to work.
Here are the steps I took. Make sure that there is a 120v outlet available to plug in the electric anode, when finished. These are for an electric hot water heater, but I understand gas heaters are similar, but first review online how to drain the gas heaters.
First recommendation is to go online or to local plumbing supply store and purchase and electric anode to replace current anode in the water heater. Most heater have the same threads, so just make sure it will fit your heater.
I turned off the power to the Hot water heater and shut off the cold water intake valve.
I them drained the water from the tank. There is a drain at the bottom of most tanks that a hose can be connected to, to allow the drainage. Also, if it seems to slow, might try raising the lever on the pressure relief valve.
I removed the anode. This is a metal rod that runs inside your tank. Most of the time it will be very tight, so make sure you use care if you use a cheater bar or impact wrench. The anode will probably look nasty. Pull it out and set aside, if you don’t replace it you will need to clean it later.
Make sure the drain valve is shut off and the pressure relief valve is in normal state. Pour the gallon of hydrogen peroxide into the tank through the hole the anode screws into. If need use and funnel to get the peroxide into the tank. One in, slowly turn on you cold water valve to add some water to the mixture. Maybe a minute’s flow. Turn the cold water valve back off, take your anode and just lightly screw it loosely into the hole it came out.
You will not have to allow your hot water heater to sit overnight, so make sure you plan for not using it at all.
Next day remove the anode and drain the heater again. Once drained shut the valve and you won’t need to drain any further. Now place about a half-gallon of regular house hold bleach into the water heater. Take your new electric anode and screw it into the hot water heater, (make sure it is tight so not to cause leaking).
Turn on the cold water valve and allow the tank to fill. Important: Do not turn on the electricity to the heater until it is full. Make sure no leak once full and then turn the power back onto the heater. Once power is restored to the heater plug in your new electric anode to a normal 120v outlet.
Once hot water heater is full open a couple of hot water faucets only. Usually, tub is good. There will most likely be very nasty looking water exiting, let it run until it is clear, then turn on all your faucets in the house and make sure water is running clear. That should take care of it.
This is not a recommendation or endorsement of any product to help with the nuisance. I’ve just written down what worked for me and what I was able to research to solve the issue. If you wish to try it, that is totally up to you.
The District can answer questions for you but we can not do this for you.