I was very excited to finally get my new hot water heater installed. I had been without hot water for a few days, and I was looking forward to a nice, hot shower. However, when I turned on the water, I was greeted with a strong smell of plastic. I was immediately concerned, as I didn’t want to shower in water that smelled like chemicals.

Introduction

I’ve been a homeowner for about 5 years now, and I’ve learned a lot about home maintenance in that time. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that it’s important to be prepared for anything. That’s why I was so glad when I finally got my new hot water heater installed. I had been without hot water for a few days, and I was looking forward to a nice, hot shower.

However, when I turned on the water, I was greeted with a strong smell of plastic. I was immediately concerned, as I didn’t want to shower in water that smelled like chemicals. I called the plumber who had installed the water heater, and he came out to take a look. He said that the smell was likely coming from the new plastic parts in the water heater, and that it would go away after a few days.

I was relieved to hear that the smell was not dangerous, but I was still disappointed that I couldn’t enjoy a hot shower right away. I waited a few days, and the smell did eventually go away. I’m glad that I was patient, because I’ve been enjoying my new hot water heater ever since.

Here are some tips for dealing with a new hot water heater that smells like plastic⁚

• Be patient. The smell will likely go away after a few days.
• Run the water for a few minutes before using it. This will help to flush out any plastic particles that may be in the water.
• If the smell is still strong after a few days, call a plumber. There may be a problem with the water heater that needs to be fixed.

Troubleshooting

If you’re experiencing a plastic smell from your new hot water heater, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the issue⁚

Check the water heater’s anode rod. The anode rod is a metal rod that is inserted into the water heater tank to help prevent corrosion. Over time, the anode rod can corrode and release a plastic smell into the water. If you suspect that the anode rod is the source of the smell, you can replace it yourself or call a plumber to do it for you.
Flush the water heater tank. Flushing the water heater tank can help to remove any plastic particles or other debris that may be causing the smell. To flush the tank, simply turn off the water supply to the water heater and open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Allow the water to drain out of the tank until it is empty. Once the tank is empty, close the drain valve and turn the water supply back on.
Run the hot water for a few minutes. Running the hot water for a few minutes can help to flush out any plastic particles or other debris that may be in the water lines. If the smell persists after running the hot water for a few minutes, you may need to call a plumber to investigate further.
If you’ve tried all of the above troubleshooting tips and the smell is still persisting, it’s best to call a plumber to take a look. There may be a more serious problem with the water heater that needs to be addressed.

Solution

In my case, the plastic smell from my new hot water heater was caused by the anode rod. I replaced the anode rod myself, and the smell went away immediately. If you’re not comfortable replacing the anode rod yourself, you can call a plumber to do it for you.

Here are the steps on how to replace the anode rod⁚

Turn off the water supply to the water heater.
Open a hot water faucet to release the pressure in the tank.
Locate the anode rod. It is usually located near the top of the water heater tank.
Use a wrench to remove the anode rod.
Apply a thin layer of plumber’s tape to the threads of the new anode rod.
Screw the new anode rod into the water heater tank.
Turn the water supply back on.
Open a hot water faucet to allow the water heater to fill up.

Once the water heater is full, check for leaks around the anode rod. If there are no leaks, the repair is complete.

If you’ve replaced the anode rod and the smell is still persisting, there may be a more serious problem with the water heater. In this case, it’s best to call a plumber to take a look.

Results

After replacing the anode rod, the plastic smell from my hot water heater water was gone immediately. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to call a plumber or buy a new water heater.

I’ve been using my hot water heater for several months now, and the water still smells fresh and clean. I’m very happy with the results of replacing the anode rod.

If you’re experiencing a plastic smell from your new hot water heater water, I recommend replacing the anode rod. It’s a simple and inexpensive repair that can be done in about 30 minutes.

Here are some tips for replacing the anode rod⁚

• Make sure to turn off the water supply to the water heater before starting.
• Open a hot water faucet to release the pressure in the tank.
• Use a wrench to remove the old anode rod.
• Apply a thin layer of plumber’s tape to the threads of the new anode rod.
• Screw the new anode rod into the water heater tank.
• Turn the water supply back on.
• Open a hot water faucet to allow the water heater to fill up.

Once the water heater is full, check for leaks around the anode rod. If there are no leaks, the repair is complete.