askchapo

Shooting from the hip, algae bloom. If youre in an area with high iron content, drawing from a well, and it’s predominantly hot side, id bet its algae.

This can be treated at the water heater with 3% peroxide, and changing the anode rod. Most anodes are magnesium, and magnesium anodes usually give you a sulphury/rotten egg smell, but they can also cause the iron oxidizing bacteria to go nuts, and thise give you an earthy odor. The bacteria are in the whole sustem, but being in the water heater is an ideal condition for growth.

There are a ton of videos on YT on how to treat the water heater, and how to change an anode rod. Its not hard to change the anode, but youre likely to need a damn rattle gun to get the anode rod loose. Some of them can be a real MFer to crack loose. Of for some reason you do, go back with aluminum instead of magnesium. Be wary, messing with the water heater is simple, but sometimes, especially when dealing with an older water heater, cracking open fittings can sometimes cause more problems than it solves.

Id also maybe keep in mind having someone come look at your water well, and consider treating the well with chlorine to kill off the bacteria responsible.

Out of curiosity, how deep is the well, how much does it produce, what depth is the pump set at?