Hot Water Smelling Like Rotten Eggs?

What causes a rotten egg smell in hot water?

A rotten egg smell in hot water often stems from sulfur-reducing bacteria that break down substances in your water heater tank.

The metallic composition of anode rods in your water heater encourages growth of sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB), which in turn produce hydrogen sulfide, leading to that familiar rotten egg smell. Hydrogen sulfide gas, produced by SRB, is responsible for the distinct rotten egg odour emitted from your hot tap.

Bacteria thriving on the worn magnesium anode rod increase hydrogen sulfide levels, causing an unpleasant smell in your hot water.

Sulfur odours become more pronounced when heated water from your tank releases the hydrogen sulfide gas, particularly when running the hot tap.

To understand why hydrogen sulfide in water leads to a sulfur smell, it’s essential to examine these sources:

• sulfur presence in your tank or local water source
• hydrogen sulfide seeping from natural deposits into your groundwater
• Issues with the water heater’s heating elements or dip tube, fostering sulfur-reducing bacteria and ultimately infusing hydrogen sulfide into your water
• Cross-contamination from sewer gases, rich in hydrogen sulfide, tainting your plumbing and water supply

Identifying hydrogen sulfide as the cause of your water system’s rotten egg odour is crucial for addressing the issue, which professional plumbers are equipped to handle. We can help discern the configuration of your system, scrutinise your water flow, and ascertain the odours emanating from your taps.

Preventing rotten egg smells through maintenance

Regular maintenance of your water heater can alleviate issues such as smelly hot water, typically a result of sulphur and bacteria interaction, which if neglected, could worsen. Here are some pivotal steps to diminish any chances of water heater smell becoming something objectionable rather than enjoyable:

Flush The Water Heater

Draining and cleaning your tank annually is key to preventing odour-causing bacteria, as sediment is a common breeding ground for these organisms. Refer to the manufacturer’s guide for instructions.

Inspect The Anode Rod

Regularly inspect your anode rods and consider a powered anode option if you detect considerable corrosion; this is often where sulphur-reducing bacteria begin their activity. Consider upgrading to a powered anode rod for its less propensity to succumb to sulphate-reducing bacteria.

Set Temperatures Properly

Maintaining your water heater temperature between 49°C and 60°C is crucial for reducing odours and inhibiting bacteria-friendly conditions.

Consider a Chlorination System

Using chlorinated water neutralises bacteria that cause rotten egg smells, effectively preventing unexpected odours in your system. But test chlorine levels regularly to mitigate the water smell like rotten eggs and be mindful of health risks if too high.

Our experts can assess and tailor a maintenance strategy for your water heater, particularly the anode rod, to prevent the recurrence of unpleasant odours.

Adjusting water heater temperature settings

Precisely adjusting your water heater’s thermostat is crucial to manage hot and cold water temperatures, keeping sulfur bacteria at bay and neutralising any odour that may emerge.

Ideal Temperature Range

Setting heaters between 49°C and 60°C effectively controls bacteria and ensures water is sufficiently heated, ridding both hot and cold water of rotten egg smells.

How to Adjust the Temperature

Safely change your hot water heater’s temperature with these steps, crucial for well water systems:

1. Locate the thermostat near the bottom of the tank. There may be a protective panel covering it.
2. Ensure to turn off the power supply at the circuit breaker prior to meddling with internal components, particularly if there’s a cold water smell issue.
3. Use a screwdriver to gently turn the thermostat dial to your desired temperature setting between 49°C and 60°C.
4. Replace any removed panels and turn the power back on at the circuit breaker.
5. If you’re wondering 'why does my water smell?' when you notice your cold water has a distinct odour, test the water temperature at your faucets after a few hours, once the tank has reheated.
6. Repeat steps to make small adjustments until the temperature reaches the ideal 49°C to 60°C range.

If unsure about water tank repairs, our skilled team can assess and precisely adjust your system’s settings with meticulous care. Never attempt access inside the tank unless the power supply is switched off.

Installing water purification systems

Benefits of Water Purification

Installing a water treatment system offers numerous benefits, including eliminating rotten egg smells and safeguarding against future contamination.

• Removes sulfur, bacteria, and impurities before they enter the water heater
• Protects plumbing and ensures the longevity of your treated water supply systems
• Improves overall tap water quality and taste
• Chlorination systems kill bacteria inside the tank
• Soft water systems can reduce mineral buildup and corrosion

Types of Water Purification Systems

There are more than several reliable water purification systems well-suited for home installation:

• Reverse Osmosis (RO): An RO system with a permeate pump will remove over 98% of impurities through a multi-stage filtration process.
• Ultraviolet Light (UV): UV light destroys bacteria DNA to deactivate and prevent regrowth inside water pipes.
• Chlorination: Chlorine injection systems maintain a residual level of chlorine to kill bacteria before entering the water heater.
• Water Softeners: Installing a water softener reduces mineral content through ion exchange technology to prevent scale buildup and corrosion issues.

Our licenced plumbers possess the expertise to select and install water purification systems that’ll address bad water issues and ensure your household water is devoid of the egg smell coming from impurities.

When to call a professional plumber

In situations where at-home remedies are inadequate for problem water smells, it’s crucial to contact a professional, licenced plumber from your local area to resolve rotten odours from your hot water system.

Engaging with experts is prudent if you’re wondering, 'what’s the problem your water smells odd?' even after trying various corrective measures:

• Flushing and draining the water heater tank
• Choosing to replace anode rods if they show signs of significant wear
• Adjusting temperature settings between 49°C - 60°C
• Installing a water purification system

our team at Plumpton Plumbing is proficiently trained in evaluating your hot water systems to remedy and prevent the rotten egg smell hot water can release into your house, along with other sulphur odours.

We engage in thorough evaluations for those who need water system inspections to figure out the root cause, often discovering why the water might smell like issues not detectable through DIY testing. Then our experts can provide tailored solutions, whether it’s anode rod replacement, plumbing modifications to prevent contamination, chlorination injection systems, or full water heater tank replacement if necessary.

Don’t hesitate to call 1300 349 338 or email [email protected] to book an appointment. One of our friendly staff will schedule a visit so we can inspect your system and provide practical solutions for clean, safe hot water.