Very often, replacing the standard magnesium or aluminum anode rod with an aluminum/zinc alloy anode will solve the problem. The zinc is a key ingredient, since pure aluminum anodes will also reek to high heaven.
If you finally determine that the rotten egg smell is coming from the hot water heater, switch your anode rod to a zinc anode rod. The zinc does away with that horrible smell. Suburban makes rods that are aluminum or magnesium. The magnesium rods are supposed to last longer.
To remove the smell of sulfur, you're going to want plain white vinegar. White vinegar is a commonly used home remedy for cleaning and getting rid of strong odors.
Unfortunately a new magnesium, or even aluminum, rod can increase the smell compared to an exhausted rod. A powered anode protects like magnesium or better, and it does not facilitate H2S production. sanitizing can have a very good effect.
Get rid of the anode rod and replace it with a CorroProtec powered anode rod. It lasts for 20 years, eliminates the sulfur stink immediately and permanently. No need to keep treating the tank with peroxide or chlorine over and over. It's a once and done fix! It's the magnesium anode rod that promotes the stink.
An important part of your water heater, it moves cold replacement water to the bottom of the tank when you use hot water; otherwise, both will mix and reduce the water temperature. Anode Rod Replacement: While an anode rod costs between $20 and $50, a plumber can replace it for $50 to $150.
Even if you drain your water heater, change the anode you'll still have the bacteria. But, there is an easy way to kill them off. To eliminate sulfate-reducing bacteria from the water heater, you need to raise the water temperature above 140 degrees for 8 hours. Bacteria die out at temperatures above 140 degrees.
Anode rods require routine inspection and replacement, approximately every three to five years. Without proper maintenance, the anode rod loses its ability to divert damaging particulates from your tank and can accelerate rust and corrosion from chemical reactions, excessive heat, and imbalanced pH levels.
Disinfect and flush the water heater with a chlorine bleach solution. Chlorination can kill sulfur bacteria. If all bacteria are not destroyed by chlorination, the problem may return within a few weeks. Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours.
Add 1 to 2 pints of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind typically found at drugstores) for every 40 gallons of water heater tank capacity. This can be done by pouring the peroxide into the water heater's outlet pipe opening or into the T&P valve opening; alternatively, you can use the pre-filter screen method (seen here).
It is a commonly used home remedy. If you want to get rid of sulphur tang from your clothes, then you can soak them in a mixture of vinegar and water. And if some area of your house smells, then you can spurt vinegar there.
The most effective way to treat and prevent sulfur from affecting you and your water is a well water filter. An iron filter can eliminate hydrogen sulfide in water as well as iron and manganese.
Foods such as cruciferous vegetables (think broccoli, cauliflower, kale and sprouts), red meat, eggs, dried fruits, beer, and wine, are all high in sulphur, so reducing intake of these foods can help to reduce levels of hydrogen sulphide.
Chlorine bleach can effectively remove medium to high levels (over 6 mg/l) of hydrogen sulfide. The chlorine in the bleach chemically reacts with (oxi- dizes) the hydrogen sulfide eliminating the "rotten egg" odor. Chlorine bleach also reacts with iron or manganese, and disinfects water supplies.
Aluminum Zinc Anode Rods
Zinc, unlike aluminum or magnesium, is not conducive to producing hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, when you replace the existing rod with an aluminum zinc alloy rod, it helps reduce the hydrogen sulfide gas, thereby mitigating the smell.
Without a functioning anode rod, the tank itself would start to corrode, leading to leaks and system failure. This is why the condition of the anode rod is often a good indicator of the overall health of the water heater.
The best way to eliminate the odor is to purge your plumbing system by completely emptying your hot water heater. To accomplish this, turn on the hot water at all faucets in your home, including bath and shower faucets.
Just subtract the depth to the water from the total depth of the well. Multiply that by 0.65 for a 4-inch well or 1.47 for a 6-inch well. Then add another 100 gallons for the tank and hot water heater. Use 3 pints of chlorine bleach for every 100 gallons.
The Cheapest Solution: Degassing the Water
Simply pour the water into a glass and let it sit for 24 hours. The air will oxidize the sulphur out of the water and then the smell will be gone. Now, obviously, if you want more than a glass or two of water a day, you're going to want a whole-house solution.
Very often, replacing the standard magnesium or aluminum anode rod with an aluminum/zinc alloy anode will solve the problem. The zinc is a key ingredient, since pure aluminum anodes will also reek to high heaven.
Should you drain your hot water heater every year? Yes, but that's really just the bare minimum. You should really drain and flush your water heater twice-per-year: once in the spring, and then again in the fall. The reason why comes back to what a water heater is flushing out: minerals and sediment.
Your sacrificial anode may last longer, but if it's been more than 5 years since a human being even set eyes on it then you're long overdue for an inspection. That's because, in some cases in particularly mineral-rich water, the anode rod will last less than a single year – although 3-5 years of life is about average.
The tried and true way to remove the “rotten eggs smell” from your hot water tank is to replace your water heater's anode rod with a zinc-aluminum rod. While the aluminum will fight against corrosion, the zinc will combat the reaction that creates the rotten egg smell.
Assuming you have a tank water heater, and not a tankless system, one thing that may get rid of that rotten egg smell is completely flushing the water tank out.