I have a 10 year old Hot Water Heater, it is installed in my 2nd Home. It has had power applied to it maybe 2 weeks per year. The water, I know is very stale and needs to be flushed each year. The HW Heater is on city water in South Carolina. Is the rotten egg smell a sign that the anode or tank should be replaced? Other than the egg smell it heats and runs good.

It could be the sacrificial rod or a bacterial build up. Drain it with fill inlet closed. Add 5 cups of bleach via the rod hole which you are going to remove anyway to inspect. If the rod is heavily corroded replace it and install a new one. Fill the tank with not heat and let it sit for 12 hours and then drain it. Now refill and flush for 30 minutes. Flush means open the drain but let the fill valve open to continually refill.

Thanks very helpful.

Canton,
I prefer to use hydrogen peroxide to neutralize water heater odors, it is much safer than bleach - 1 pint for each 20 gallons of tank capacity... I also suggest shutting the power to the water heater during long periods of inactivity - you may also want to consider replacing your sacrificial anode rod with a powered anode rod...

Do you have the Sulfur Smell from cold water?

I was only there for a day and a half and since we do not drink the water, I am not sure. Plan to go back down in a week or two and will check. Mainly, we are used to well water and from the get go did not like the taste and for 20+ years only drink water we fill at the Grocery store in Gallon jugs.

What kind of plumbing do you have ? PEX, Galvnaized, Copper of PVC ?
Just curious

Milo

Copper to the water heater. As far as I know only the hot water is nasty right now.