Water heater smell NOT in water

[KSFARMER]

At our wits end. Remodeled a farm house in 2020, installed the water heater and due to appliances being backordered couldn't move in until Nov. of that year. After a hot shower we noticed a terrible smell. We had the lines smoked, venting tested, used a camera on the lines, all from a local professional plumber. The water has never had a smell, and only after a hot shower do we smell it.
We've also changed the anode rod, drained and flushed with peroxide. We finally gave up and bought another water heater. It was fine for a week and tonight we are smelling it on the new hot water heater after a hot shower.
Im sick. $2,000 we have invested in hot water heaters and still have the same problem. Desperate for a new solution!

 

[MicEd69]

Is it a sewer smell?

Are you on well water?

If the smell is not from the water, (hydrogen sulfide?), then why did you suspect the water heater?

 

[Twowaxhack]

Bleach the entire system and you should’ve swapped the original magnesium anode to aluminum.

If you have well water water it could be your water. Boil some water from a cold faucet and see if it stinks.

City water is typically treated with chlorine or equivalent.

If you have city water the chemicals used to treat it can react with new construction materials, like paint to create a bad smell.

I had one customer with this complaint and it ended up being stinking soured towels they hung up behind the door…...

 

[RonAKA]

You may want to consider a powered anode rod like this one.

Corro-Protec Powered Anode Rod