Household water that smells like rotten eggs isn’t an issue you should ignore. Of course, it’s hard to ignore that smell!
You’re not alone if your hot water smells like rotten eggs in Austin, TX. The cause of the problem may involve components of your water heater reacting with bacteria in your water.
The plumbing team at Indigo Home & Facility Services can help rid your hot water of unwanted odors. We can inspect your heater to determine the best fix for your situation.
Understanding the Cause
If your hot water smells like rotten eggs, it’s likely due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. This gas may occur naturally in groundwater.
According to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, sulfur-reducing bacteria in groundwater may give off a sulfuric smell. These bacteria are often abundant in the water supplies of cities like Austin, where “hard water” is common.
However, chemical reactions in your water heater tank may be the cause if you only notice the smell when running hot water.
Most water heaters have anode rods that guard against corrosion. Yours may be an aluminum anode rod or a magnesium anode rod. Your hot water may have a rotten egg smell due to bacteria reacting with the anode rod.
Is My Home’s Water Safe?
You might understandably worry that your home’s water isn’t safe to drink or shower with if you notice a rotten egg odor. Certainly, you should contact a plumber to confirm your water is unlikely to cause health issues.
That said, humans can detect the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas in water at very low levels. The gas results in an unpleasant taste, even in trace amounts too small to cause any damage. If there was enough hydrogen sulfide gas in your water to threaten your health, the taste would be very unpleasant. You likely wouldn’t be able to drink it without gagging!
That said, addressing the issue will improve the taste and smell of your hot water. It may also prevent hydrogen sulfide gas from reaching dangerously high levels. Even if it’s unlikely to reach those levels, you should be cautious and speak with a plumber about the smell.
How Not to Fix the Problem
If your hot water smells like rotten eggs, do not attempt to fix the problem via these methods:
- Removing the Anode Rod – Don’t remove your anode water heater’s rod to eliminate the rotten egg odor. Attempting to remove any component from a water heater tank can be dangerous if you don’t have the proper tools and experience. Additionally, the anode rod serves an important purpose. Removing it will leave your water heater vulnerable to corrosion. This will substantially reduce its lifespan. You may also void your water heater’s warranty if you attempt to remove the anode rod.
- Replacing Anode Rod Material – Both aluminum or magnesium anode rods can react with bacteria in your water. The result will be a rotten egg smell. Thus, replacing your anode rod’s material may not be an effective way to address this issue.
At best, these methods won’t get rid of the rotten egg odor. At worst, they can damage your water heater and may even put you at risk of injury.
How to Get Rid of Rotten Egg Smell in Water
There are various methods for addressing a rotten egg smell in hot water that can be effective. They are:
- Flushing Your Tank Out – Flushing your water heater’s tank out is something you should be doing at least once a year anyway. Depending on how often you use hot water, you may flush the tank out every six months. Flushing the tank out can remove the bacteria that cause the unpleasant odor.
- Using Chlorine – A chlorine solution can kill the bacteria in your water heater. However, this method doesn’t always kill all bacteria. If it doesn’t, the smell might eventually return.
- Replacing Your Anode Rod – Replacing an aluminum anode rod with a magnesium rod (or vice versa) may not get rid of the odor. However, replacing either of these with a zinc anode rod could do the trick. Just remember that this task may be best left to a professional.
- Installing a Water Softening System – Installing a water softening system may address the issue of hard water causing the smell. That said, some water-softening systems can actually contribute to an odor. They may be more likely to do so if you’ve installed a zinc anode rod. If you already have a water softener, check to see whether the smell comes from faucets that aren’t connected to it. If these faucets don’t generate an odor, sulfur bacteria in the water softener itself may be the cause of the smell.
- Replacing Your Water Heater – Replacing your water heater is an option to consider if you’ve tried everything else. This may be your best option if your water heater is already nearing the end of its lifespan.
Consult with a professional plumber before installing a new water heater. They can explain whether it’s worth your money to swap out your current heater with a new one, as well as offer possible alternatives.
Enlisting the help of a plumber when your hot water smells like rotten eggs is smart in general. A qualified plumber can determine the cause of the problem and offer a range of potential solutions. If you do need a new water heater, they can remove your old one and install your new one for you.
Does Your Hot Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs? Call Austin’s Plumbing Professionals Today
Indigo Home & Facility Services is proud to serve customers in and around Austin, TX, and we’re prepared to offer the assistance you need if your hot water smells like eggs. We’ll investigate the issue and determine the ideal way of handling it. Find out more about what our Austin plumbers can do for you by calling us at (512) 608-4999 or contacting us online today.