The most common odor problem from water heaters is a rotten egg smell that comes out of your faucets and fixtures when running water. This smell is typically caused by sulfate bacteria that can develop within the tank. The soft water breaks down the magnesium and creates sulfate gas within the water heater.

The right socket for water heater element is Drive x 1-1/2 inches socket. Designed to properly the all common size electric heater elements, this socket’s opening will snugly fit the hex end. This is to allow you to use the most appropriate torque without slipping.

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to remove a water heater element that needs a replacement.

1. Step 1: Turn off the circuit breaker.
2. Step 2: Attach the garden hose.
3. Step 3: Turn off the water supply.
4. Step 4: Remove the access panel cover.
5. Step 5: Remove the heating element.
6. Step 6: Clean the new element.

You are most likely on well water, and there is a bacteria, known as SRB (sulfate-reducing bacteria), that gets into water heaters and, although harmless to humans from a pure health perspective, creates the odor by digesting naturally occurring sulfur-based elements in the water, releasing tiny amounts of hydrogen …

Pour a ½ to 1 gallon of bleach into the water heater through the hot water outlet opening. Install the A420 anode rod. Once the Chlorine odor is noticed turn off the faucets and allow the bleach to sit in the water heater and water lines for a minimum of 3 hours, but a full day is desired.

Ordinary household water softeners do not remove sulfur odors from water. In fact, softeners easily become fouled or clogged, reducing their softening capacity.

Sulfur is low in toxicity to people. However, ingesting too much sulfur may cause a burning sensation or diarrhea. Breathing in sulfur dust can irritate the airways or cause coughing. If animals eat too much sulfur, it may be toxic and can be fatal.

Breath that smells of rotten eggs often indicates a problem with the digestive tract. That’s because gut microbiota break down sulfur, releasing that eggy-smelling gas.

While such concentrations are rare, hydrogen sulfide’s presence in drinking water, when released in confined areas, has been known to cause nausea, illness and, in extreme cases, death. Water with hydrogen sulfide alone does not cause disease.