Sediment(?) in Gas Water Heater Tank

Try flushing water heater from valve on bottom of heater. I am doing mine tomorrow. You should do it periodically.

I emptied a water heater a few weeks back in a house that was vacant for two years and on a well not a meter. No lie it looked like cum pouring out and smelled horrible. Nastiest mess I have ever seen.

Yea and if it won't drain it is probably air locked. Move the pressure release valve to the center to let air in. If it still won't drain you can hook a compressor up to the utility connections and turn it on to get it going that way.

Depends on what you are trying to do. Are you trying to get the water out of the lines to Winterize it since it's vacant or are you just trying to get rid of the smell?

In trying to get water that doesn't stink and isn't brown. (I'll probably also drain the system tonight or tomorrow, because some forecasts are calling for mid/low 20s Wed night.)

I had the smell from going on vacation and leaving the house vacant for a few weeks. From what I remember, it is a bacteria that is reacting with the anode rod; the bacteria had time to multiple since the water was not being regularly used. Quick fix was to nuke the bastards; turned the heat up to near 150 and used it for several days (talk about a hot shower!).

Had the problem again after a shorter vacation and decided to drain and flush the tank. Unplug heater (or turn off breaker), turn off cold water to the heater, attach hose, open hot water faucets in the house to prevent vacuum, open heater drain, and open pressure release valve. Once drained, run the cold some to flush stuff out and then reverse the process.