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Removing Rotten Egg Odor From a Water Heater

If your water heater smells like rotten eggs, you probably need to replace the appliance’s anode rod. The anode rode is a long metal rod designed to attract corrosive elements in a water heater. While its purpose is to extend the life of the appliance, over time, it produces a sulfide gas due to the reaction of the rod with certain bacteria. If you decide to make the repair yourself, you may void any warranty on the appliance. To prevent voiding the warranty, you may want to have a licensed plumber replace the part.

Things You'll Need

  • Garden hose
  • Bucket
  • Flat screwdriver
  • Breaker bar with socket
  • New anode rode
  • White polytetrafluoroethylene tape
  • Hacksaw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Disconnect the power to your water heater. If it is a gas heater, turn the control to pilot.

    • 2

      Turn off the water supply to the water heater.

    • 3

      Attach a garden hose to the hose bibb on the bottom of the water heater and drain about 5 gallons of water into a bucket. This lessens the water pressure. Shut the valve and remove the hose.

    • 4

      Pull off the cap covering the end of the anode rode, located at the top of the water heater. If necessary, use a screwdriver to help pry off the cap.

    • 5

      Scrape away any insulation around the top of the rod to make room for the socket to fit around the top of the rod.

    • 6

      Fit the socket to the top of the rod and twist it to loosen the rod from the water heater. Lift the rod out of the water heater. When it is unscrewed, the rod lifts from the top of the appliance.

    • 7

      Compare the length of the old rod with the replacement rod. If necessary, cut off the bottom part of the new rod with a hacksaw so the new rod is the same length as the old rod.

    • 8

      Wrap the top threaded portion of the new rod with polytetrafluoroethylene tape, wrapping the tape around the rod about eight times. Leave several bottom threads exposed.

    • 9

      Insert the rod into the water heater in the place where you removed the old rod. Use the socket to screw the rod into the appliance securely.

    • 10

      Replace the cap over the end of the rod. Turn the water and power supplies back on.

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