Hot water smelling like rotten eggs /sulfur

2 years ago

Hello - I am getting sulfur/rotten eggs smell from my hot water at the taps. Cold water is fine. We have well water with filtration and water softener.

We just replaced a 15-16 year old water heater for the same reason. The smell was gone after the tank was replaced for couple of weeks, but now it’s back.

We do have some copper pipings but majority of the exposed pipes I see for hot water I see are plastic/pex?? The house is about 15-16 years old. The house did stay vacant for several years while we moved but we’ve been back for couple of years now and we’ve been having the issue since.

When the water heater was replaced, the temp level was very low, which I have turned up a bit.

Is there anything I can do before calling the professionals?

Appreciate any/all inputs and suggestion. Thanks.

Featured Answer

A Mat

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

It may be your anode, May need replacement, another metal. You can drain the stinky water. But in my experience at the cabin. if you do not use the water, it will become funky.

I do not remember the details, but something in my water was being eaten by bacteria, might have been sulfur. Are you on a well..An ozone treatment system stopped the ordpr.

Can you talk to a local plumber, they should know your water and issues..

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Comments (6)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
Is it seasonal? You have to turn off the wh when you aren’t there or it will get the sulfur smell and the only solution is to drain it.
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Nala 123
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks for other help. My neighbor said that the anode rod needs to be changed on the water heater to an aluminum one instead magnesium. Hopefully that works
Izzy Mn
2 years ago
Per a friend who grew up with a well that got a sulfur smell, it's caused by anaerobic bacteria in the well. Pour some bleach in well (not sure how much) and let sit for a few hours then run water for a while. Bleach will kill bacteria, at least for a while. At summer place I go to after winter (it's closed all winter) is over they treat the well with bleach and it's fine for the rest of the summer.
klem1
2 years ago
I think your neighbor is right. Need proper anode to prevent electrolysis caused by softener chemicals.
kathyg_in_mi
2 years ago
DH took out our anode rod and the rotten egg smell went away. This was last house 40 years ago.