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ups.com...

JJ wrote:
Our hot water has developed a strong odor.

snip

Because it was low on salt, I need to manually recharge the softener
several
times so it catches up? Or??
Private well
Copper plumbing
Water heater 1 year old
Cold water has no odor, both the softened taps and the kitchen
unsoftened.

Any thoughts?


I think if you do a google search, you will find a lot of info on this.
Water heaters have been known to do this, and as I recall, it's caused
by a non harmful type of bacteria. There are various solutions.



Yep, it's the bacteria. Had that problem with the cabin just a couple of
months ago. You will need to get some chlorine into the tank. The easiest
way, as well as best in order to sanitize the plumbing, is to shock the
well.

**** Turn off the power to the water heater and drain the tank. If
possible, turn off the incoming water to the tank****

1). Mix a quart of bleach into 4 or 5 gallons of water and pour it into the
well head.
2). Hook a hose to an exterior spigot and turn on until you smell the
chlorine. Then, put the running end into the well head and let it circulate
for a few minutes (I did 3).
3). Now, turn on an interior faucet closest to the water heater. Let run
until you smell chlorine. Shut off and open the water heater inlet valve.
You will likely run out of chlorine by the time this is done and will have
to repeat #1. My tank has no valve on the incoming line so I opened the
drain line until I smelled chlorine.
4). Start at the most distant faucets and repeat at each faucet in and
outside the house. If, at any point you no longer smell chlorine you must
repeat step one and then return to the faucet where you no longer smelled
the bleach.
5). Let stand for 6 to 8 hours and then flush each leg.

It worked for me. Time will tell. Sometimes you can get a bacteria bloom
at the well head and have to repeat this task. I previously had well water
at our residence for 15 years and never had to but others in the
neighborhood did. Go figure.