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  Water heaters are an essential element of a home. Anytime you take a hot bath or shower, your water heater is to thank for it. Kenmore has been a leading manufacturer in water heaters for many years, thanks in part to its close association with Sears. Kenmore water heaters have a generally good reputation but they also can experience a multitude of maintenance problems that require repair.
  
  

Burner Assembly Replacement

• Some Kenmore water heater models, particularly in the 40-gallon variety, can have the burner assembly replacement fail and require replacement. The pilot can be lit manually but will then go out after the water heats up. This is usually caused by a faulty thermocouple that cannot keep the pilot lit for any length of time. The thermocouple regulates the amount of gas going to the pilot on a gas heater and the pilot sometimes causes too large of a flame and it burns the thermocouple and disables it.
  
  

Excessive Condensation

• Kenmore tanks can sometimes create an abundance of condensation on the outside of the tank over a very brief time period, resulting in a pool of water dripping to the floor that is easily confused for a water leak. This is most common when the tank is filled with cold water and the burner is first turning on to heat it. The moisture can also accumulate and drip onto the pilot, resulting in sizzling noises and possibly putting the pilot out.
  
  

Odor

• Some Kenmore water heaters can develop a smell similar to that of rotten eggs. This is generally caused by a chemical reaction between the anode rod, which helps prevent corrosion inside the tank, and the water supply. The reaction results in hydrogen sulfide gas in the water supply that is caused by a large amount of sulfate in the water along with a minimal amount of oxygen. Many heaters have sulfate-reducing bacteria inside the heater, which is not harmful but contributes to the reaction, and a large amount of hydrogen resulting from the anode rod. When all of these factors are present, the rotten egg smell will result. Replacing the anode and chlorinating the water supply can reduce the emissions.