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[Shrek1112]

I recently had a Hawken HE-2100 installed with DHW plate exchanger on the outlet side of my water heater.  I have turned the water heater to pilot mode to save more on propane but we have recently noticed the strong sulfer/rotten egg smell when using hot water. I have read many articles that point to an anode issue in the water heater but it seems odd that it would happen right after our boiler was up and running. Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

[slimjim]

Is there the same smell from the cold side as well?

[Roger2561]

Perhaps a good flush or 2 of the tank is in order to rid it of sludge at the bottom of the tank.  We had to do that to the water heater at the fire house when I was in the EMS.  The smell from it would smell like a really bad (or good depending on your perspective) fart.  Roger

[aries9245]

Like slim said .. Is it well water my well is 500' deep and the sulfur and iron manganese  is so bad I need to disinfect my well every 2 months  I also hv a inline filter to eirator to water softener and I still get the sulfur smell on occasion horrible..

[Shrek1112]

 Slimjim - it is hot water only cold has no smell.

[hondaracer2oo4]

So do you have a water softener in your house?

[Shrek1112]

Yes we do, salt is full softener is only a 2 years old. 

[hondaracer2oo4]

Softeners cause the anode rod to stink like sulphur if after a backwash all of the brine wasn't rinsed throughly from the resin bed. I have a feeling that for some reason your new set up with your hot water tank is letting salty brine water from the softener hit the anode rod and is causing it to stink. My water would stink after my softener did a backwash so I just removed the rod. You can get a different type of anode rod that doesn't smell or you can just remove it since your water softener should be taking care of your hard water issues that would lead to hurting your heater tank

[Shrek1112]

Thanks homdaracer- I have pulled the old rod and their is no metal left.  I am going to flush as previously recommended and then try just a plug and see what comes of it.  Thanks again all for the assist. 

[AirForcePOL]

I have that same issue as well but it isn't caused from the boiler.  What I have done in the past is drain the water heater, put a little bit of bleach in the tank and fill it back up.  Let it sit for a while and then drain it again.  It should take care of the smell. 

[Sloppy_Snood]

LINK::  Hydrogen Sulfide (Click Here)

[Jwood]

LINK::  Hydrogen Sulfide (Click Here)

[Shrek1112]

Sloopy_Snood- great link thanks. I have removed the old anode, there was nothing left of the metal and a sewage like slime on it, flushed the tank twice and then capped the rod hole and filled as normal. Smell is gone for now and will monitor (the wife will for sure). Thank to everyone for the responses and help. 

[slimjim]

 

[Sloppy_Snood]

Glad it helped Shrek but I would consider putting an aluminum cathode rod in to replace.  Just change it out every 2-3 years.