In Part 1 of this post, we talked about some of the causes of a rotten egg smell in your hot water. Today, we’ll talk about some of the remedies for this stinky situation.
To remove a sulfur smell from your hot water, you either have to prevent hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S = the source of the smell, as you may recall from Part 1) from forming, or kill the bacteria responsible for it.
Technically, there is a third approach that some “experts” will advise: removing your anode rod. Don’t do it! Not only will removing your anode rod accelerate tank corrosion (which could lead to a tank failure), it also voids your water heater’s warranty! Keep the anode rod right where it is, doing what it’s supposed to do – sacrificing itself to preserve your tank.
Solution 1: Kill the bacteria with hydrogen peroxide
If you know your way around a water heater, you could try this fix on your own. If you don’t, contact the water heater experts at P. Gagnon & Son and we’ll take care of it for you.
Solution 2: Replace your anode rod with a zinc + aluminum model
Another way to possibly fix the rotten egg smell in your water heater is to remove the magnesium or aluminum anode from your water heater and replace it with one that’s made of both zinc and aluminum – just make sure you get one that’s the same style and size as your current anode. You should notice a difference in a day or two.
Solution 3: Replace your storage-type water heater with a tankless propane water heater
A third possible solution is to bypass the need to store hot water in the first place – something you can easily do by replacing your storage-type water heater with a high efficiency tankless propane water heater. You’ll get unlimited hot water, save 30 percent or more on your water heating bills, and you won’t have to think about replacing your water heater for another 20 years.
Considering making the switch to a tankless propane water heater or upgrading your conventional propane water heater? Contact us for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a high efficiency water heater for your Southern Maine or Seacoast, NH-area home!