Anaerobic Bacteria In Water Heater

Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees fahrenheit 71 degrees celsius for several hours.

Anaerobic bacteria in water heater.

If all bacteria are not destroyed by chlorination the problem may return within a few weeks. Anaerobic bacteria that s found in water mixes with sulfur aluminum and magnesium sacrificial anodes which is a fancy name for a rod that s screwed into the top of the tank. Before calling in a plumbing contractor you may want to add a quick flushing procedure as part of your home improvement routine. Disinfect and flush the water heater with a chlorine bleach solution.

The smell of rotten eggs when you turn on the hot water usually means you have a problem with anaerobic bacteria. Chances are good that the sulfurous smell is caused by anaerobic bacteria setting up quarters in the magnesium and aluminum elements of the heater creating gas. The bacteria known as divibrio sulfurcans inside the heater s tank converts the sulfate into the hydrogen sulfide and makes the water smelly. Turn off the cold water valve.

When your water heater smells like sulfur here s what is probably happening. Try this easy diy fix for the stench. They don t degrade prevent smelly water by killing anaerobic bacteria that leads to that rotten egg smell and protect your hot water heater from corrosive elements in the water. Hydrogen sulfide gas h2s and anaerobic bacteria combined with the standing hot water inside the tank are the main reasons for the rotten egg odor in hot water and water heaters.

Chlorination can kill sulfur bacteria. Normally a hot water heater that smells like rotten eggs is due to anaerobic bacteria that are found in some water types in some parts of the country that react with the sulfur aluminum and magnesium anodes that are part of your hot water heater. It smells terrible but is generally harmless. There are hundreds of thousands of different types of anaerobic bacteria many routinely living in our colon off when we do not absorb or shed outnumbering aerobic bacteria.

Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem. Bacteria which do not survive well or long under low oxygen conditions thus not common in water exposed to the air for long. As a result hydrogen sulfide gas is produced which causes the rotten egg smell. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria.

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