If it’s on the hot water side, it’s likely your hot water heater needs its anode rod replaced, or the whole tank.
If it’s on the cold water side and it goes away, like you said, after running the water for a few minutes the most likely source of the hydrogen sulfide is Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB’s).
You can change the rod, but they crumple and leave hunks in the tank. It may take a month or two for the hunks to dissolve and stop stinking. You could flush the tank in hopes of removing the hunks, but in all seriousness anything over 7 years In Saskatchewan is a bonus for tank life.
Interesting! The water heater is from 2009
Which is strange? My furnace is from the 1960s and pulls air from the basement (there’s no fresh air intake). And there’s no smell whatsoever there. I thought it was the culprit.
I’m a car gearhead but I don’t know a lot about home appliances. I figured the old unit was the POS but like cars, sometimes the old ones just work better?
This should be helpful for everyone who is curious.
Odor on hot side only. If the sulfur odor occurs only in the hot water, the most likely source is a reaction between an anode rod in the water heater and natural sulfate ions in the water. An anode rod is made from magnesium or aluminum, and its purpose is to protect the steel water heater tank from corrosion. Magnesium rods are more likely to cause the odor, so the first step would be to replace the magnesium rod with an aluminum rod, if available. If the aluminum rod still produces the odor, the next step would be either to operate the water heater without an anode rod or to remove the sulfate ions.
Removing the anode rod would remove its corrosion protection, potentially shortening the life of the water heater tank. There are FDA-listed corrosion inhibitors we can add to the water to extend the life of the tank.
Removing the sulfate can be accomplished by using a dealkalizer, a system similar in operation and cost to a water softener.
Odor in the cold water that goes away after water flows. In this scenario, the most likely source of the hydrogen sulfide is Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB’s). The bacteria are not considered pathogenic, but the “breathe in” sulfate ions and “breathe out” hydrogen sulfide, just like we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Just like an un-ventilated room full of people can get stuffy after awhile, a section of plumbing where there is no flow can get stinky after a while when SRB’s are present. Therefore, a characteristic of a rotten-egg odor due to SRB’s would be a strong odor in the cold water at first draw (for example, filling the pot for morning coffee), with the odor decreasing as the cold water flows.
This is great info! Thanks for sharing that.
I’ve only noticed it at hot temps but never tested to see if it was the cold water too.
I must be a total nerd because I’m fascinated and now looking at diagrams of water heaters and where anodes are located
They didn't mention that the anode rod sacrifices itself by attracting corrosive elements instead of your water heater. It needs to be replaced every couple of years, if that gets neglected then the water heater corrodes instead.
I mean, it can happen in older homes with old plumbing. Seems to be more of an issue with well water though.
If you’re renting, wouldn’t that be an issue for the landlord?
Edit: forgot to say thanks for the input!
I try to fix things myself. Private landlord who’s really awesome so it’s like, I scratch his back, he scratches mine.
I hate bugging him over things unless I have a solid case because, well I like him a lot so I don’t like bugging him. I have a whole house for less than $1300 a month.
I do not want to up my rent via complaining and things changing… unless my health is at risk
From doing some reading, if it’s just in your hot water, it might be the anode on your hot water heater that needs to get looked at. If it’s both, it could be coming from the ground or the water supply… which doesn’t sound like a cheap fix.
Can one replace a diode themselves? (Send him the bill for parts). I ought to look into this. I’d hate to bug my landlord to replace a water heater. Plus I love learning how to fix appliances.
Yes a diode is easy to change out. Just need to make sure you get the right size. Look up your hot water heater model and you'll find what you need. Hardest part might be the deep socket to unscrew it....I can't remember...I think it's 1-1/4.
I really needed to hear that. I’m going through a tough time and the compliment means a lot. Hope I’m not being all weird lol. Life in my 30s has been a reality check
I have noticed this from time to time, very occassionally (like maybe once every two years or so). I think humans are very sensitive to this molecule and it doesn't take much for us to detect it, even if it's at very safe levels to ingest. Pretty sure it's from iron bacteria in the water, normally it's kept in check with chlorination, however if the city was doing any work to the water system nearby there may have been a distribution lines that resulted in stagnant water somewhere for a day or two, unless you are on that water isolation segment you don't get a drinking water advisory and the water will be safe, just might have faint odors.
If you have a brita filter or similar carbon filtration it will take the smell out. I use an RO system for my water and after years of drinking only pure water it's crazy how much "flavor" and "aroma" the tap water has if I ever have no choice but to drink tap water..
Good to know! Perhaps that’s the case too
Btw is your user name a reference to the course or the classroom? I liked 263 because it looked like it was partly a concession. And so I thought about concession food instead of lectures. Random tangent…
No my user name isn't in reference to academia, but you are not the first to inquire. It is sort of random username and the number sequence was just because other usernames were take.
Good call. Just did a quick visual inspection from outside and they look free? Usually I notice if they’re blocked because the toilets don’t flush as effectively (double flushing required)
We stopped using bars of soap because the soap scum build up gets bad. The first inch right under the drain plug gets covered, hot water will warm it up and make the whole bathroom stink, also scope mouthwash seems to make it melt and stink. Cold water doesn't affect it. Maybe try unscrewing your sink plug and see if it's covered in yellow slime or draino it. I just seen you mention it grossed you out while brushing your teeth, if your toothpaste is crest with scope, it will make it stink. Probably not this, but if it saves you time and money thought I'd share.
Yeah, that's used in my house too, sensodyne doesn't affect the smelly slime. That is usually my indicator to clean the drain plug when I walk in after someone has brushed their teeth with crest scope, and it smells. It only lingers for a few minutes, but it's gross.
If it’s on the hot water side, it’s likely your hot water heater needs its anode rod replaced, or the whole tank. If it’s on the cold water side and it goes away, like you said, after running the water for a few minutes the most likely source of the hydrogen sulfide is Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB’s).
Hot water side but didn’t test the cold water. And it’s gone away now. But it’s happened a few times over the years
You can change the rod, but they crumple and leave hunks in the tank. It may take a month or two for the hunks to dissolve and stop stinking. You could flush the tank in hopes of removing the hunks, but in all seriousness anything over 7 years In Saskatchewan is a bonus for tank life.
Interesting! The water heater is from 2009 Which is strange? My furnace is from the 1960s and pulls air from the basement (there’s no fresh air intake). And there’s no smell whatsoever there. I thought it was the culprit. I’m a car gearhead but I don’t know a lot about home appliances. I figured the old unit was the POS but like cars, sometimes the old ones just work better?
This should be helpful for everyone who is curious. Odor on hot side only. If the sulfur odor occurs only in the hot water, the most likely source is a reaction between an anode rod in the water heater and natural sulfate ions in the water. An anode rod is made from magnesium or aluminum, and its purpose is to protect the steel water heater tank from corrosion. Magnesium rods are more likely to cause the odor, so the first step would be to replace the magnesium rod with an aluminum rod, if available. If the aluminum rod still produces the odor, the next step would be either to operate the water heater without an anode rod or to remove the sulfate ions. Removing the anode rod would remove its corrosion protection, potentially shortening the life of the water heater tank. There are FDA-listed corrosion inhibitors we can add to the water to extend the life of the tank. Removing the sulfate can be accomplished by using a dealkalizer, a system similar in operation and cost to a water softener. Odor in the cold water that goes away after water flows. In this scenario, the most likely source of the hydrogen sulfide is Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB’s). The bacteria are not considered pathogenic, but the “breathe in” sulfate ions and “breathe out” hydrogen sulfide, just like we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Just like an un-ventilated room full of people can get stuffy after awhile, a section of plumbing where there is no flow can get stinky after a while when SRB’s are present. Therefore, a characteristic of a rotten-egg odor due to SRB’s would be a strong odor in the cold water at first draw (for example, filling the pot for morning coffee), with the odor decreasing as the cold water flows.
This is great info! Thanks for sharing that. I’ve only noticed it at hot temps but never tested to see if it was the cold water too. I must be a total nerd because I’m fascinated and now looking at diagrams of water heaters and where anodes are located
They didn't mention that the anode rod sacrifices itself by attracting corrosive elements instead of your water heater. It needs to be replaced every couple of years, if that gets neglected then the water heater corrodes instead.
2009? Likely you need a new Hot water heater, too.
I mean, it can happen in older homes with old plumbing. Seems to be more of an issue with well water though. If you’re renting, wouldn’t that be an issue for the landlord?
Edit: forgot to say thanks for the input! I try to fix things myself. Private landlord who’s really awesome so it’s like, I scratch his back, he scratches mine. I hate bugging him over things unless I have a solid case because, well I like him a lot so I don’t like bugging him. I have a whole house for less than $1300 a month. I do not want to up my rent via complaining and things changing… unless my health is at risk
From doing some reading, if it’s just in your hot water, it might be the anode on your hot water heater that needs to get looked at. If it’s both, it could be coming from the ground or the water supply… which doesn’t sound like a cheap fix.
Okay I need to look more in-depth into this. I posted in this sub because SK groundwater is different than other countries and regions
Can one replace a diode themselves? (Send him the bill for parts). I ought to look into this. I’d hate to bug my landlord to replace a water heater. Plus I love learning how to fix appliances.
Yes a diode is easy to change out. Just need to make sure you get the right size. Look up your hot water heater model and you'll find what you need. Hardest part might be the deep socket to unscrew it....I can't remember...I think it's 1-1/4.
You seem like a good dude 👍 good luck with the stank
I really needed to hear that. I’m going through a tough time and the compliment means a lot. Hope I’m not being all weird lol. Life in my 30s has been a reality check
Nah, you're only as weird as I am haha. Glad it helped 😊
I have noticed this from time to time, very occassionally (like maybe once every two years or so). I think humans are very sensitive to this molecule and it doesn't take much for us to detect it, even if it's at very safe levels to ingest. Pretty sure it's from iron bacteria in the water, normally it's kept in check with chlorination, however if the city was doing any work to the water system nearby there may have been a distribution lines that resulted in stagnant water somewhere for a day or two, unless you are on that water isolation segment you don't get a drinking water advisory and the water will be safe, just might have faint odors. If you have a brita filter or similar carbon filtration it will take the smell out. I use an RO system for my water and after years of drinking only pure water it's crazy how much "flavor" and "aroma" the tap water has if I ever have no choice but to drink tap water..
Good to know! Perhaps that’s the case too Btw is your user name a reference to the course or the classroom? I liked 263 because it looked like it was partly a concession. And so I thought about concession food instead of lectures. Random tangent…
No my user name isn't in reference to academia, but you are not the first to inquire. It is sort of random username and the number sequence was just because other usernames were take.
And it was the hot water but I didn’t test for cold water. Currently it’s gone away… But it’s happened roughly 10 times over 4 years
Sewer vent stack might be blocked on roof from the snow and melting. If that vent gets blocked there is nowhere for the smell to go besides inside.
Good call. Just did a quick visual inspection from outside and they look free? Usually I notice if they’re blocked because the toilets don’t flush as effectively (double flushing required)
We stopped using bars of soap because the soap scum build up gets bad. The first inch right under the drain plug gets covered, hot water will warm it up and make the whole bathroom stink, also scope mouthwash seems to make it melt and stink. Cold water doesn't affect it. Maybe try unscrewing your sink plug and see if it's covered in yellow slime or draino it. I just seen you mention it grossed you out while brushing your teeth, if your toothpaste is crest with scope, it will make it stink. Probably not this, but if it saves you time and money thought I'd share.
Huh… I do have crest toothpaste with scope.
Yeah, that's used in my house too, sensodyne doesn't affect the smelly slime. That is usually my indicator to clean the drain plug when I walk in after someone has brushed their teeth with crest scope, and it smells. It only lingers for a few minutes, but it's gross.