We have well water and about 3 years ago we put in a new hot water tank. Ever since then, we get a smell when we turn on the water. Like sulfur or rotten eggs. We heard that it had something to do with a part that is in the hot water tanks now to prevent corrosion and make them last longer, but I don't know if that's true or not. Any help or ideas wouldbe greatly appreciated. Thanks !!
2007-08-18 12:32:56 · 13 answers · asked by Lisa 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It sounds like you have hydrogen sulfide in your water. It's a common product made by certain (harmless) bacteria which feed off of sulfur. It has that "rotten egg" smell and it can get into water supplies.
I'm not sure how well these treatment options would work for a well, but chlorination, aeration, manganese greensand, and catalytic carbon treatments can remove it and make your water smell and taste fresh again. You can click on the link below to get more information about this.
2007-08-18 12:46:23 · answer #1 · answered by brinmat 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Why does our well water smell like rotten eggs and what can I do about it?
We have well water and about 3 years ago we put in a new hot water tank. Ever since then, we get a smell when we turn on the water. Like sulfur or rotten eggs. We heard that it had something to do with a part that is in the hot water tanks now to prevent corrosion and make them last longer, but I...
2015-08-06 12:06:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water Smells Like Sulfur
2016-09-28 07:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is just the hot water that smells, it is an iron based bacteria that has formed on the anode rod. Some water heater companies have special anode rods that are designed for the type of situation you describe. Call them up and see what they can do. Some people will remove the rod, cut it off and just use the top part as a nut. The problem with that is that it will void your warranty and shorten the life of the hot water heater. What worked for me (I replaced the anode rod) was to also put in a water softener that uses the iron removing salt. It has cut the odor way down.
2007-08-18 15:16:26 · answer #4 · answered by Kahless 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several things that could be causing this. One is the high Iron Bacteria (not germs but, a chemical compound) in the water causing hard water, or it could be the new heater, the magnesium rod in the water heater is made to crumble in time, to protect the heater from rust on the inside. You can take this magnesium rod out, it should be on top, a large nut, but, you have to replace it with a pipe plug.
After you do this you'll have to flush out the heater every spring to clean it out, I do anyway, it makes the heater last longer this way.
You could call out a soft water person and see what it's going to coast to get a water softener put in. Usually the ones that contain the chemicals in the water are expensive but, if that's what you want?
2007-08-19 00:07:45 · answer #5 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be a combination of both. well water has a sulfur smell to it some wells more than others. you guys probably should have an aeriator not sure if I spelled that right but it airs the water out before it enters the house and reduces the smell. You can have culligan install a treatment tank too. hope this helps.
2007-08-18 12:44:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The simplest, easiest solution is to just remove the anode rod from the water heater and either cut it off and reinstall the top plug, or buy a new plug, tape it and install it, without the rod attached. If you put in a new rod it will eventually smell also, that's what they do. They attract the impurities in the water and hold them on the rod, and for some reason in some areas, the impurities that collect cause the horrible rotten egg smell. You will also have to flush the tank of the water that's in it after you replace the plug, to get rid of the smell. Done it many times in our area.
2007-08-18 15:13:57 · answer #7 · answered by Corky R 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
water smell rotten eggs
2016-01-31 06:47:29 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I m a plumber and i had the same problem sulfur it wasn't good Ive looked into in to it and desisted to live with it you can get all kinds of water purifier services and pay a monthly service and the home depot type little whole house filters would take too much maintenance? and it was safe to use and i didn't smell like surfer when i shower Good luck
Tom
2007-08-18 14:25:23 · answer #9 · answered by tom k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My parent's have the exact same problem. They had a company come out and test the water and found out that it is actually Tannin in the water that is causing the smell. They were told that it is perfectly OK to drink the water this way, but they chose to install a water softener/purifier to solver the problem.
2007-08-18 12:43:07 · answer #10 · answered by Rahrah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋