Posted 2010-01-13 10:19 AM (#115206 - in reply to #115202) Subject: RE: Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
Veteran
Posts: 123 Location: Indiana
First, its a water heater not a hot water heater . It sounds as if you have an iron problem. Most likely a baterial iron problem. Chlorine should remove the smell, but make sure you run a tremendous amount of water through it afterwards. Then put a filter on your hose when you fill your tanks again. Most water softener companies will have what you need.
You may also want to check the anode rod in the water heater. Sometimes when that corrodes, it will cause the water to stink. You can either remove it and put a plug in its place, or replace it if its too far gone.
You should also know your water source. If the well is too shallow, you are going to end up with some problems.
Posted 2010-01-14 2:41 PM (#115275 - in reply to #115202) Subject: RE: Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
Veteran
Posts: 231 Location: Illinois
I am assuming all water heaters have them rods??? And where would one go to get a replacement if one is needed? camper supply? trailer Dealer / manufacturer of water heater ? What would you consider the life expectancy of said rod ?
Posted 2010-01-14 3:12 PM (#115278 - in reply to #115275) Subject: RE: Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by To Much Trouble on 2010-01-14 3:41 PM
I am assuming all water heaters have them rods??? And where would one go to get a replacement if one is needed? camper supply? trailer Dealer / manufacturer of water heater ? What would you consider the life expectancy of said rod ?
No, not all water heaters have anode rods, just the Suburban brand. If you remove the rod and install a drain plug, your heater will become irrevocably damaged. If you have a Suburban heater, the rods are available at almost any RV supplier, and dozens of parts vendors on the Internet. The price is typically ~$14 or so.
They can last several years or a single year. It depends on how much the heater is used and the quality of the water. The more hard it is, the quicker the anode rod will deteriorate.
Atwood water heaters do not use an anode rod, they feature an aluminum clad tank. They will be fitted with a drain plug only.
Posted 2010-01-14 3:55 PM (#115281 - in reply to #115202) Subject: RE: Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
Veteran
Posts: 123 Location: Indiana
My respects to Gard, but I believe he has it backwards. Suburban water heaters are porcelain lined, so they don't need the rod. Atwood has an aluminum lined tank that needs the rod to attract the corrive elements in the water. It should be checked yearly, normally when you winterize the unit. If you pull the rod and its bad, you should replace it. You will ruin your tank eventually. The basic idea is porcelain cannot corrode, aluminum can. I have pulled the rod out of many water heaters, in trailers and at home, and it has solved the smell problem that I was getting after I put pre-filters on the water lines.
Posted 2010-01-14 5:03 PM (#115284 - in reply to #115202) Subject: RE: Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
Location: Central Arkansas
My LQ trailer has a Suburban anode rod. I know this to be a fact as I just chased one down last month to put back in after my darling hubby winterized my trailer. While I was at camping world. I was looking at thru the different sizes of anode rods. The service tech, who knows my trailer well, walked by and said, "yours takes the longer one since it is a Suburban. The shorter ones are for Atwood water heaters."
Posted 2010-01-14 9:33 PM (#115293 - in reply to #115202) Subject: RE: Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
You can add a magnesium alloy cathode rod to an Atwood water heater to increase its life span. You remove the plastic drain plug and substitute it with this specific rod:
Sulphur Smell in Hot Water Heater
. It sounds as if you have an iron problem. Most likely a baterial iron problem. Chlorine should remove the smell, but make sure you run a tremendous amount of water through it afterwards. Then put a filter on your hose when you fill your tanks again. Most water softener companies will have what you need.
My respects to Gard, but I believe he has it backwards. Suburban water heaters are porcelain lined, so they don't need the rod. Atwood has an aluminum lined tank that needs the rod to attract the corrive elements in the water. It should be checked yearly, normally when you winterize the unit. If you pull the rod and its bad, you should replace it. You will ruin your tank eventually. The basic idea is porcelain cannot corrode, aluminum can. I have pulled the rod out of many water heaters, in trailers and at home, and it has solved the smell problem that I was getting after I put pre-filters on the water lines.