My hot water heater was replaced last August, 2004. I was away for a month over the summer and I turned it down to vacation temp. A little while after I returned, the hot water started to smell bad. It happens at every faucet including the shower, and only when I have the hot water running. I have had a plumber in for other reasons and asked him about it - said it didn't smell like rotten eggs and the brand hot water heater doesn't usually have a problem with heating elements. He put bleach into the tank, which seemed to do away with the smell for a little while. Now, about a month later, the bad smell has returned. Does this mean I have bacteria in my tank? If I turn the water heater up hotter for a while, might it kill the bacteria?

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Originally Posted by fixerupper

My hot water heater was replaced last August, 2004. I was away for a month over the summer and I turned it down to vacation temp. A little while after I returned, the hot water started to smell bad. It happens at every faucet including the shower, and only when I have the hot water running. I have had a plumber in for other reasons and asked him about it - said it didn't smell like rotten eggs and the brand hot water heater doesn't usually have a problem with heating elements. He put bleach into the tank, which seemed to do away with the smell for a little while. Now, about a month later, the bad smell has returned. Does this mean I have bacteria in my tank? If I turn the water heater up hotter for a while, might it kill the bacteria?

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Sure sounds like bacteria to me. Chances are he didn't load the tank up with enough bleach or you may try hydrogen peroxide in quantity . Failing that you might want to check out a commercial germicide at; http://www.biocide.com/gramicid.html
Good luck, Tom

Anode Rod Has gone Bad and needs to be Removed and then plug the hole after pouring with Hydrogen Peroxide in hot water. Run out through all faucets in hot water lines for a good long while till cool. You can drain hot water heater to get it all out but you want to clean the lines of bacteria. Turn up hot water heater to 140 degrees this will help kill bacteria. Vacation temp is too low and bacteria with the anode in chemacally reacts ands goes bad. You do not have to Replace anode It will not Hurt anything . I had same hot water heater for 12 years without it. This will fix your Problem.

You do not have a bacteria, there are anode rods in your water heater and you need to replace them with a zinc rod instead of the factory rods that were installed, this is a common mistake made by all plumbers, I have been a plumber for 32 years and finally figured out what cause the bad smell in hot water

Sbpitcher,
Good answer but five years too late. Look in the upper left hand corner for the date. Welcome to AMHD. Regards, Tom