I have sulfur smell to well water. How can this be corrected?

Question

the odor is strongest from the hot water tap when first opened and diminishes after use.

Answer 1

If you want to use a filter system, there are three choices as to which amount of water to filter.
Put a filter system in located between the pump and the hot water filter. This will eliminate the chemical problem with the hot water.
Instead you could put a water filter system in located between the pump and the exit points in the house for simplicity sake.
If you prefer, you can put a filter on the sink location and allow the rest of the house to have regular well water , but then you will still have sulfur smells with shower, etc.
Be sure to change the filter when needed. (At first, be sure to check to see if it needs changing every once in a while, until you are aware of how often your particular filter needs changing - well water varies in chemical contents).
Also, have you drained your hot water heater lately? There is a tap at the bottom for this purpose, and it should be drained every once in awhile for efficiency, as chemicals settle and build up at the bottom of the tank. You could be smelling the build up of those chemicals.
As to the smell leaving after a short while, noses get used to a smell after a short time (that is the same reason we think our perfume or cologne has dissipated after a few minutes, only to hear later on in the day - "love your perfume!"

Answer 2

My grandmother had this problem when she had a new well dug and the water was contaminated.The water smelled like rotten potatoes, the company had to dig a second well in the same day.She could not use the well for consumption only to water plants ,wash cars ,etc...I moved to Virginia and was concerned about the well water that I was about to use and was told to use a little bleach, just add it to the well.But do not use a whole gallon because I could smell bleach for 3 weeks.I learned the hard way .LOL

Answer 3

and the correct answer is......Mine!!!! As a well driller we have been called in to fix other drillers mistakes often.You problem is your well was drilled too deep. If you paid to have it drilled, you got screwed.There is one thing you can do to cure this problem. It is a inconvience for yu. You have to clorinate your well a couple times a year(3-4). to do this you shut power off to the well remove the well cap, and dump two gallons of clorine bleach down the pipe.stick a garden hose into the pipe and turn it on. circulate the water unitill you smell clorine coming from the hose. shut off power recap the well and turn back on. let run until clorine smell is gone.It may take up to 2 days.YOu can use the water in the house after about 10 hours but dont drink till smell is gone. Also if you have a ice maker turn it off you dont want that surprise in your cold one.We normally start this process in the morning as everyone is leaving by the time they get home its normally safe to shower with. Dont worry about the pump running its better for it to run like this than cycle like for everyday use. I ALMOST FORGOT IF YOU HAVE A WATER SOFTENER BYPASS IT!!!!! FILTRATION SYSTEMS WONT CURE THIS PROBLEM!!!!!

Answer 4

Hydrogen sulfide in the water if the smell is in the well. A water softening system may help in this case.

If you cannot smell it in the well, it may be a high iron content in the water of which chlorination may help but not in the well as one poster suggested. This is a short term approach. There are commercial iron removal systems on the market that use chlorination.and filtration for iron removal.

Answer 5

We also have well water, and old plumbing in the house. When I first wake up, and get water for tea, I let the cold water run about a half minute to remove any water standing in the pipes. Just let the water run a little.

Answer 6

We have the same problem. A water softener will do it if you use iron out salt.