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Water smells and is dirty

Bob Sweet
Bob Sweet Member Posts: 540
in THE MAIN WALL
that the sacrificial anode to took a serious hit during the down time, was the heater full of stagnate water for the entire renovation?

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Comments

  • gary_6
    gary_6 Member Posts: 60
    Water smells and is dirty

    I did a major renovation on a house and the gas hot water heater was off for a while. Now the water smells when I run it and is very dirty looking.. What's the best cost effective way to correct this problem???
  • Brad White_153
    Brad White_153 Member Posts: 28
    Don't sniff it. Don't drink it.

    I would heat it to limit (at least 140) then run water through it for several changes until clear. I have a concern re: Legionella. If the smell is "biological" (musty, slimy) there are products to sterilize the system. Sterilization/Disinfection is recommended after any domestic work in any case. Follow the directions. Most require an overnight sitting followed by a flushing as I recall. Products may have changes so follow the directions regardless.

    If the smell is sulfurous or metallic (stop sniffing it for crying out loud!) it may need flushing. Absent testing, why wait? Disinfect it.
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,744
    try this

    Drain it. Flush it. Add two pints of Standard 3% hydrogen peroxide per forty gallons of capacity. Refill and let heat. Run water from the taps until it just starts to warm. This fills all the piping with treated water. Leave it overnight. Start using water from there on. The typical rotten egg odor will be gone.

    Yours, Larry
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