Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

How so?
Dip tubes (the inlet) remove sulfur???

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I don’t think he’s talking about the dip tube, I think he means replacing the anode rod, which, in addition to draining the sediment, is the correct solution to smelly hot water.
https://www.duncanplumbingsolutions.com/anode-the-life-of-water-heater

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Not arguing--that’s just what my plumber told me about smelly hot water at a rental; he replaced the rod, and it worked.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

More logical.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Yes, the anode rod is what I was referring to.

Najataagihe

This is a very common problem in RVs that have been stored for a while with a full water heater.

The hydrogen sulfide is a produced by anaerobic bacteria in the water.

Minerals and anode rods have nothing to do with it.

It stinks, but is harmless.


There are three ways to deal with this.

The most common (and easiest) is to flush the water heater until the smell goes away.

I run bleach through it, when I sanitize the water system.

Others use vinegar to get rid of the smell.


For a residential water heater, turn off the power or gas, run a hot water spigot until it is cool enough to leave your hands under it (but still warm), attach a garden hose to the bottom drain, run it outside and open the drain, UNDER PRESSURE, until it runs clear and cold.

Do NOT open the T&P valve.

You do not want to get air in the tank.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

While I completely agree on periodically draining sediment from water heaters as I mentioned earlier, a magnesium anode rod can react with sulfates in the water to produce hydrogen sulfide. This from The University of Georgia Extension Service:

“When plant or animal tissue is decomposed underground where oxygen is not available, sulfur-containing compounds and minerals can be changed into hydrogen sulfide. This gas is very insoluble in water. When water is underground this gas is trapped within the water. When the water is pumped to the surface, the hydrogen sulfide gas is free to escape and this is why it is so easy to smell (from both hot and cold faucets). If you detect the smell of hydrogen sulfide from only the hot water faucet, your water heater may be causing the problem. The magnesium corrosion control rod (anode rod) inside the water heater can react with sulfate to form hydrogen sulfide. This problem can be eliminated or reduced by replacing the magnesium rod with one made of aluminum”. (https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension-county-offices/henry-county/anr/HydrogenSulfideandSulfate.pdf)

Also, running the water heater at a high temperature setting will minimize the formation of bacteria. That’s exactly the issue with hot water heaters mentioned above that are left off in RVs for extended periods.

Najataagihe

The study addresses sulphuric compounds suspended in ground water, not those generated by bacteria.



Bingo.

The BACTERIA are not destroyed, when the heat goes off.


Most RVs have water heaters without anode rods, so you can’t replace them, anyway.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Agreed, but this isn’t an RV with a water heater that is turned off for long periods. This is a regular home/commercial type water heater we’re discussing, so unless it's turned down very low (like 110 degrees) or turned completely off for periods (which I don’t know), it’s hot enough that bacteria growth is unlikely. The articles I referenced points out that if the water heater has an anode rod (which home water heaters do), the magnesium can react with sulfates in the water to create hydrogen sulfide. So the take aways are: drain the sediment from your water heater periodically, keep the temperature up (to maybe 135-140 degrees), and if you still have a sulpherous smell only from the hot water, consider changing the anode rod.

Najataagihe

When he said “American Legion”, I thought of our local unit - where they shut everything off, when the building is not being used.

If it is hot, all the time, it’s the anode rod, just as you mentioned.

A good flush is in order, in any case!

Hangingon Loc: NW North Dakota

Locally we had problems with the anodes in the water heaters reacting with some chemicals in the water. Removing the anodes solved the problem. The water is now better so that is no longer an issue.

sheldon minsky Loc: iron mountain michigan

What does painting the building and who the painters were, have to do with smelly hot water?

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

is it on a well with iron bacteria.
raise the temperature above 135 F

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

We've gone through this at our beach house. The hot water heater anode rod needed changing, and if they do change it, make sure they clean the inside of the tank. Also, it can happen to cold water, we had it down the shore house. You have to call the town on the cold, plumber for the hot.

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

Clean out water heater and remove the "sacrificial rod" The smell should go away.
Rectifying This Reaction Within Your Water Heater
Each water heater is equipped with a magnesium anode rod in order to temporarily limit corrosion within the tank. In most cases, the smell of sulfur will be caused by high magnesium content water that comes into contact with the original anode already present within the water heater.

If the odor issue comes from the reaction between the magnesium anode and your water, several options are available to you. However, it is important to know that these options are not all good in the long run.

Remove Magnesium Anode (NOT RECOMMENDED)
It would be possible to eliminate these odors by completely removing the magnesium anode from the tank. However, doing so is very dangerous for the water heater because it will then be without its protection against rust. The weakest and most exposed places will then rust faster forcing you to change your tank after only a few years.

Replace the Magnesium Anode With an Aluminum Anode
It is also possible to replace the magnesium with an aluminum anode. Water will no longer have a poor chemical reaction while supported by the new anode, and odors should completely disappear.

However, even though aluminum anodes are cheaper than magnesium anodes and last longer, the main issue is that as the anode dissolves, debris tends to harden and sink to the bottom of the reservoir. This can potentially end up in your faucets and cause breakage. In addition, some scientific research raises concern regarding aluminum residues found in water which could have adverse effects on people’s health.