Rotten Egg Smell in Hot Water
Skip the Details: Solve Your Hot Water Smell in 15 Minutes
The Corro-Protec powered anode rod is the best long-term solution to stop the sulfur smell in your house. It works effectively in the long term, no matter the cause of the smell.
The Corro-Protec replaces the anode rod in your water heater and prevent reactions that cause the awful smell. Taking only 15 minutes to install it yourself, it’s a quick and easy solution to eliminate any unpleasant odors.
Why Your Hot Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs?
SRB Bacteria and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Although there are several reasons why you have rotten egg smell in your hot water, the most common cause is the sulfur reducing bacteria (SRB) in the hot water tank. They feed on sulfur and produce hydrogen sulfide gas as waste. When the gas dissolves in the water, it gives it that characteristic odor of spoiled eggs. Even if the smell is horrible, those bacteria are not dangerous for your health.Â
Anode Rod Reactions
Another common cause is the chemical reaction between your water which has high levels of magnesium content and the magnesium anode rod in the water heater tank. In some cases, the chemical reaction can be stopped by removing the anode rod. However, we don’t recommend that since the water heater won’t have any protection against corrosion.
How to Stop The Rotten Egg Smell?
Installing a Powered Anode Rod
If your hot water smells like rotten eggs, Corro-Protec is your solution. The powered anode rod will stop the rotten egg smell in under 24 hours and prevent it from ever coming back. Guarantee.
Unlike other solutions, the Corro-Protec anode will solve the smell no matter if it’s caused by the bacteria or the magnesium anode rod.
In addition, Corro-Protec also stops corrosion inside your tank and reduces limescale buildup, making your water heater maintenance easier.
Why Other Solutions Are Not Working?
Removing the Magnesium Anode Rod
The anode rod inside your tank sacifice itself to make sure your water heater last longer. Removing the only protection your tank has against corrosion is not a good idea. Also, this solution won’t work if you’re trying to fix a sulfur smell in your hot water caused by the SRB bacteria.
Installing an Aluminum Anode Rod
The aluminum or aluminum-zinc anode rod will fix the issue only if the smell is caused by the magnesium anode rod inside the tank. Like the previous solution, this one does not work if the problem is coming from the SRB bacteria.
Water Heater Bleach Treatment
Bleach treatment is a short-term solution that eliminates the bacteria. However, you need to do this every other month because the bacteria will always return. Regulary flushing your water heater can be costly and takes time.
Replace Your Water Heater
If your tank is over 10 years old, it’s a good idea to replace it to avoid water leaking problems. This can help reduce odors, but you may also need to add a powered anode rod for a complete fix. SRB bacteria could be present in your plumbing system.
Other Water Smells And Solutions
Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?
Sulfur or rotten egg smells in hot water, regardless of the descriptive terms used, indicate the same issue. The Corro-Protec anode rod is the go-to solution for these odors, effectively eliminating them at their source.
Cold and hot water smell
If your cold water smells, it may be because of high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas in your well. Water filters can improve drinking water quality, but consult a water treatment specialist for accurate testing and solutions.
Natural Gas Leak
If your smell is coming from an appliance instead of your water supply, turn off your gas supply, go outside, and contact authorities and your gas company. Smell comes from your gas water heater, gas stove or anything that uses gas inside your house you may have a natural gas leak.
Water Softeners’ Role in Hot Water Smell
Water softeners, while making water softer and more pleasant, can unintentionally boost the hot water heater smells like rotten eggs by facilitating conditions that favor sulfate-reducing bacteria growth. This happens as these systems swap hard minerals like calcium and magnesium for sodium, inadvertently promoting an environment where these bacteria thrive, especially in the warmth of a water heater, thus increasing hydrogen sulfide gas production.
The Corro-Protec Powered Anode Rod addresses this by preventing bacterial growth, ensuring your water stays fresh and odor-free without risking your water heater’s protection against corrosion.
This article was written by Vincent Veilleux, Corro-Protec CEO and AMPP Tester on April 2019 and updated on march 2024.
Other FAQ
To treat smelly water, it is recommended to use the Corro-Protec anode rod. This anode rod eliminates the bacteria responsible for the rotten egg smell in less than 24 hours. In addition, the Corro-Protec doubles the life of your water heater, unlike a sacrificial anode.
The rotten egg smell in your house, often due to hydrogen sulfide gas, is generally not dangerous in low concentrations. It’s unpleasant and can indicate bacterial growth in your water heater or issues with your water supply. While the smell itself is not dangerous at low levels, it’s essential to address its cause to ensure water quality and safety in your home. Our Corro-Protec anode rods can effectively stop this issue by preventing bacterial growth in water heaters, ensuring your hot water remains odor-free.
That smell is often caused by food particles or buildup inside your dishwasher, leading to bacterial growth. Regular cleaning and maintenance will prevent this problem. If the smell is everywhere when you use hot water, the smell is coming from your water heater.
The smell typically comes from bacteria in the drain or trapped food particles. Flushing your sink with hot water and cleaner can help. If you are experiencing the rotten egg smell in hot water, Corro-Protec is your solution.
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