When your hot water smells bad, it is both unmistakable and unpleasant.
That distinct rotten-egg smell makes your stomach turn, and it sparks worry about why it’s coming from your taps. The sulphur smell can permeate the air and quickly become a topic of concern for anyone who fills up a glass of water in their home. It won’t be long before you get tired of lighting scented candles to drown out the bad smells and call a professional hot water service company.
So, what causes smelly water? What can you do to fix it and prevent it from happening again? Read on to find out.
A rotten egg smell coming from your hot water tank or hot water heater is caused by a reaction to the sulphates and microorganisms in the water. This can also appear as black water within the water lines.
The first step is to determine which line the smell is coming from, either your hot or cold lines, by running each tap from different areas of the house.
If the cold water alone has a smell, only the cold-water line is affected. If the hot water is the only source that smells like rotten eggs, the odour will be coming from your hot water heater.
The smell can be overwhelming, regardless of whether it’s hot or cold lines. Still, it can be difficult to pinpoint the source. The source of the smell, however, will determine how you should treat the problem.
Smelly hot water stems from one of these three main areas:
If the smell occurs in all faucets and goes away after a few minutes, the problem is likely in your plumbing system. In this case, it’s best to contact a plumber who can diagnose the problem or recommend a hot water system replacement.
If only the hot water smells, the problem is likely with the anode rod. If the smell is only present in some faucets, it is likely the fixtures or pipes supplying those faucets.
If your water flows through older iron distribution systems, it can develop an odour despite having enough chlorine to begin with. This is because iron pipes provide a rich environment for sulphate bacteria to grow, which deplete chlorine levels in your water, making it odorous by the time it reaches your house.
Unfortunately, smelly water does not always come from outside sources and can originate in your home’s cold-water piping, particularly if it is galvanised iron. This type of piping is an older material that provides a bacteria-growing environment, leading to the development of odours.
An excellent way to ensure your water is clean and sanitised is to have your plumber perform a shock chlorination treatment to kill the sulphur-reducing bacteria and the smells they produce. Additionally, it’s a great opportunity for your plumber to perform a hot water system maintenance check to ensure no further issues are lurking beneath the surface.
If the odour is in both your cold and hot water and the smell does not go away, the source is likely the water itself.
If your hot water is the only source of the rotten egg smell, the problem is likely originating in your hot water heater.
Tank water heaters have an element called a sacrificial anode rod, which draws corrosive minerals toward itself and away from the tank walls. If the sacrificial anode is a magnesium rod, it may release hydrogen sulphide gas as it corrodes and reacts with the sulphates in the water. You may also notice mineral buildup if your hot water is too hot.
Sulphur-reducing bacteria get their energy by feeding on the sulphates found in your water, which eventually turns into hydrogen sulphide gas, aka, rotten egg smell. If your water supply has a high amount of this bacteria, it could explain the smell.
Most water that reaches Australian homes has chemicals added for purification and health purposes, one of which is a small amount of chlorine that kills bacteria that cause odour. However, the chlorine residual may be too low, particularly if your house is far from the water treatment plant where chlorine is first introduced.
If you’ve never experienced bad water smells before, you’re lucky! Yet, it can feel overwhelming and induce quite a panic when you hear the words ‘sulphate gas’ and ‘pipe replacement’ for the first time. Whether you have chlorinated city water or water straight from the well or rain tank, you deserve to have clean, fresh, healthy water that smells how water should…like nothing!
Before you start worrying about contamination or shutting off your water supply, take a deep breath and call our crew. Our team of professional hot water technicians can calmly walk you through the steps to determine where the smell is coming from and how to fix it quickly.
If it turns out that you need a replacement hot water heater or a system flush, we can help with that, too. Our expert, hands-on knowledge is available for your maintenance, installation, and supply needs in every major city in the country.
With our same-day commitment, we have an emergency plumber on call who can eliminate those smells and keep you in hot water around the clock, so your routine doesn’t skip a beat. Click here to find all our contact details to have on hand for your next stinky scenario.