Back last Summer we had the Hot Water Tank changed out... The New One just 6 weeks into use, in that time we had been gone for 3 weeks. Come home Wife decided to take a Hot Bath, turn on the Hot Water and out comes a Black Charcoal like film with a trace of a sulphur smell. Get on the phone to the company that installed the new HW Tank, they changed the aluminum anode rod adding some ball bearing style pellets to the cylinder as well... The Tech told me to be sure and either run the hot water a couple minutes or try draining the Tank after being away for a week or so... The tank seems to be Temperamental at the best of times, if you only run the hot water to fill the tub in just 3 days.. The Black Film & Trace Smell show it's ugly face... This particular HW Tank is 10 months old... Any Thoughts or Ideas appreciated.. Cheers Thanks.

Are you on city water or a well? There are different rods made from different metals depending on your water. The smell you describe can be caused by anaerobic bactieria in your water reacting with the rod. Did they replace it with magenesium?

Are you on city water or a well? There are different rods made from different metals depending on your water. The smell you describe can be caused by anaerobic bactieria in your water reacting with the rod. Did they replace it with magenesium?


Rural Setting (Well Water) area known for hardness & iron content... Magnesium? All I know is back end of February they changed the Aluminum Anode Rod adding the aluminum pellets as well...I get the Well Water checked Religiously, taking water samples into the local Health Office...Tests always comeback Clear & Totally Acceptable....

Take in a sample of hot water and ask to test for all types of bacteria. Once a colony of bacteria get started you have to take measures to kill it not just flush like they said. A quick, cheap way is to shut off the gas or electric, shut off the supply, drain a gallon, open hot pipe at the top of the tank and add about $10 worth of hydrogen peroxide to the tank. Let it sit over night and drain in the morning. Then refill and restart the heater.

Take in a sample of hot water and ask to test for all types of bacteria. Once a colony of bacteria get started you have to take measures to kill it not just flush like they said. A quick, cheap way is to shut off the gas or electric, shut off the supply, drain a gallon, open hot pipe at the top of the tank and add about $10 worth of hydrogen peroxide to the tank. Let it sit over night and drain in the morning. Then refill and restart the heater.

We never had Issues with a Black Film / Smell with the previous HW Tank.. Truthfully dealing with an Anode Rod is a 1st for me, when the old one was changed out I wouldn't have known to check if there was even an Anode Rod in use... An appointment has been scheduled with the Company that Installed the present HW Tank... After discussing the situation over the Phone it has been their experience by removing the Anode Rod altogether should solve our Problems... Cheers Thanks, Fingers Crossed.. lol..

Is an and black will? Platteville?is black film concerns me. Bob is correct. Have your water tested for petroleum in it. Let me know what they find. Good luck, Tom

Is an and black will? Platteville?is black film concerns me. Bob is correct. Have your water tested for petroleum in it. Let me know what they find. Good luck, Tom


Sure Thing... lol...

A couple Techs came from the Company that installed the HW Tank...They installed a new tank with the Anode Rod completely removed..It had been their experience to remove the anode rod which will eliminate the film & smell...The question having done so, we should still get 8 / 10 yrs out of the Tank provided all goes well..We do have a UV Light & HD Softener prior to the HW Tank...

I will give it a couple days and have the Water Tested....Cheers. Thanks

That rod is called a sacrificial anode for a reason, is corer odes instead of your tank. That heater won't last as long as it should. Removing the rod cures the slim but not the underlying issue, contamination.