How to Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells | Ask This Old House

[@PilotVBall]

You get that smell on municipal water as well. Also, you should replace the anode every 5 years.

[@bdog0720]

Good video. While on the subject of corrosion on the water tank, One thing you forgot to do, and is a required building code in all states is to use dielectric fittings. One on the cold water inlet and one on hot water outlet. The fittings in the tank are steel. When you connect the copper pipes to those steel fittings rust much like the rod you just replaced tends to build up at this point. These fittings have a nylon pressure barrier that doesn’t let the steel and copper touch. Water and metals of all types don’t get along rust always wins. We can only delay the rust but never eliminate it. That’s why the rod was invented and these dielectric fittings. To better understand this look up dielectric fittings and why they are used. Remember, these are mandatory building code requirements for all states. If not required outside of the US I would advise you use it anyway.

[@madonnahagedorn5649]

I was at a hotel in Lompoc and the rotten egg smell permeated the parking lot. It was so bad. Now I know it was the old rotted plumbing. We didn't end up staying there because our room key failed to open the door at midnight and the office was locked with no one at the desk. Maybe it was a blessing. We found a Motel 6 open and stayed there until we could clear up matter in the morning. I won't stay there ever again.

[@dougheal3439]

I have been in the water treatment industry for almost 40 years and switching to aluminum don't work any better.

[@u2mister17]

@dougheal3439 Would you like the fix? If you are on a well that is.

[@cherielacroix3046]

I have city water and everything smells like rotten egg! The dishwasher the glass stove top the floors I am going insane! I keep my house clean but the smell is making me lose my mind! please help!! also, does this apply to city water? You said it shouldn’t but it does 🤮 or can it be something else? HELP!!

[@kevinmorris3889]

Had our landlord replace our water heater a few months ago. The water didnt start smelling until after the new water heater was put in... Yes, its well water. Should we replace the rod on a brand new heater?

[@brycenesbitt7201]

Yes, if the original rod is magnesium. Or get a "Corro Protect"

[@Herbie11]

Some of the Chinese made water heaters have a tilapia thrown in them. Seriously. It's for good luck.

[@eboniepeeples]

What if you have a new hot water tank but you are still smelling that smell?

[@gembabe1233]

Plumber did exactly this and it still stinks. Maintenance came a week later and drained the water heater and put vinegar which I let sit for 5 hours. A week later it smells again. My brother is a plumber and he doesn’t even know. It’s not well water.

[@steved2510]

Your brother isn’t a plumber if he doesn’t know how to fix it. You need a big whole house carbon filter.

[@Herbie11]

You obviously have a chicken living in there.

[@lauraallisonslacum4853]

@@steved2510We have a whole house filter and the water heater has been flushed along with the rod. Still having the stinky water smell. Absolutely stumped why we cannot get under control with our well water

[@lindaaaron5419]

I have well water and a tankless water. The water coming from the hot side has the rotten egg smell. I've heard a lot about anode rods on standard water heaters, does a tankless water heater have an anode rod?

[@TortureBot]

There's no tank. They don't have anode rods.

[@kelvinadams4877]

You getting water on demand is not tank, sound you water issues is from the main mean cold water, try to see if a main filter for whole house work for you.

[@vishalpradhan995]

Live in southern maryland we get that smell coming from the municipal water

[@kb3khs]

Funny, another Southern Marylander here watching this video to figure out WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!

[@wisezombie6856]

I'm on city water and I get that smell... why is that? Mostly on Hot water side through the entire house.

[@f1f278]

I get rotten egg sulphur smell from the cold faucet when it hasnt been used overnight or a few hours. Never comes from the hot side... so could that be Municpal water and if so, what is the solution?? Please help This old House!!

[@leehayes4019]

May be that the sulfur bacteria has gotten in the line. Chlorinate or hydrogen peroxide flush may do the trick. After clearing away the source of course.

[@CHEECHMUN]

Same here. I have city water and a salt filtration system.

[@dafnichristodoulou8356]

that smell also coming direct from the ''main '' water city tab.......who can i fix it

[@MaxxDoberman]

Always get good advice from these guys

[@davidholseth5558]

Wrong my hot water smells like rotten eggs really bad and I live in town.

[@mylightofhope]

I am on well water and I generally only notice it when I turn on hot water, however it is predominantly from a sink the furthest away in my master bath. I don't smell it at the kitchen,sink and maybe only slightly at the main hall bath sinks. Don't notice in shower of main bath either. I suspected hot water heater issue but couldn't figure out if that we the case then why wouldn't it be consistent through all the other places? I also couldn't tell if this rod could be something easily be replaced by the homeowner? Ingeniously I'm not going to be able to cut open my heater like that. Lol

[@mylightofhope]

I just watched this again and realize my hot water heater is older than what I've lived here (7 years) and you said that rid had to be replaced every 2 years. So now my only option is to replace my hot water heater providing that is what my issue is.

[@FlyboyAF22]

Did you say H2S isn't dangerous? lol It is definitely a health concern!

[@Justgirliethings6]

exactly!!!!

[@williegillie5712]

I’m on city water and started smelling the rotten egg smell a few weeks ago. One guy I saw poured hydrogen peroxide into his hot water heater every 2 months or so. Supposedly it helped. I’m hoping to get my anode replaced. With a little luck.

[@TortureBot]

Did anyone in your family ever get their hair bleached when taking a shower? Lol!

[@williegillie5712]

@@TortureBot I hope not. I replaced the anode and the rotten egg smell went away.

[@ElevatorWasher5000]

My city water smells like rotten eggs and my water heater is basically brand new

[@san379]

the smell goes away if you put the jug of water in the fridge for a while.. no big deal.. .. very common in ottawa canada wells

[@ebenezerclark123]

Fails to mention the Bacteria and legionnaires from your shower, try turning the temp up to 140oF first - Plumbers?

[@mattray8580]

It will only work for a short time and then will return. Get rid of the aluminum Anode Rod with our system will solve it.

[@TortureBot]

@@mattray8580 wait? so you did the opposite of what he said in the video to get rid of that smell. Crazy huh? He claimed to change to an aluminum rod from magnesium for the fix.

[@dbroahsimmons9189]

Good evening my house is making me sick it smell like something burning at all time it feels stuffy I notice this when my neighbor had work did on her heat and hot water system could you please tells me what happened Ian suffering bad with allergy thanks you Deb

[@Herbie11]

100% easy fix. Move.

[@MClark7623]

I have been all over to try and find a solution to my sulfur smell. It only happens on a new Delta faucet we bought for our bathroom remodel. The smell is only at that cold water faucet, no where else in the house. The smell occurred after the bathroom remodel, and sulfur smell. happens for the first minute it is turned on and then goes away. Does anyone know how to correct it?

[@michaelvoorhees5978]

Yes buy an electric ano rod.

[@Herbie11]

You most likely have a chicken living under there.

[@itsmeray01]

What about the Powered anode rods?

[@Moon_Beach]

Yeah, so I’m a renter and dealing with this. Anything I can do? I washed some clothes and they now stink.

[@Herbie11]

Front load washing machines are usually the cause of stinky clothes. I can smell people who use those machines all the time. They've become nose-blind to the stink. Never buy a front loader.

[@Mustbcedric]

mine is city water so what should I do

[@Captain-jr9us]

cedric smith replace your anode rod with a magnesium rod and flush out your water heater.

[@Ojeramup12]

Raise the temperature first and see if that gets rid of it. Try draining the water heater and placing maybe a quart of hydrogen peroxide inside the tank for a couple of hours and then drain again, Third, replace your magnesium anode with aluminum/zinc anode. You can go to hardware store or Amazon. If the smell continues just break down and purchase a new water heater and maintain it by draining it annually and replacing the anode every 2-3 years.Your old water heater has been damaged already and a new anode does not help that much, but try it!

[@rockindude05]

What about the smell in the drain and not the spout? What would you suggest for that?

[@weiss27md]

+rockindude05 Vinegar like once a week.

[@joshgrami]

+rockindude05 Fill your garbage disposal with ice cubes, and then dump vinegar down the drain. Run that with some hot water and it will get rid of the nasty smell.

[@vuetube8625]

You can also use natural Bacterial Products like Restaurants & Bars use for drains & traps, but targeted for consumer/home use (Roebic).

[@Rockstarmimi1]

I use Vinegar and baking soda. Let it bubble, and it will. I repeat this a couple of times in my shower and disposal. It seems to help.

[@redteam9881]

We just take our anode rods out and not replace them. With Interior Alaska hard water we would have replace our rods every 2 to 3 years. So we just take them out and plug the hole.

[@eleanor9182]

How often do you replace your water heater? Aren't those anodes supposed to be sacrificial?

[@RMSIN393]

How do I solve for this using a Superstor SSU 45 indirect water heater? Made of stainless steel and does not have an anode rod.

[@mattray8580]

The Anode Rod is hidden under the top cover in the center of the unit.

[@matthewmillard9775]

Curious. Has anyone ever had a smell in their water heater room of lamp oil. Its sounds crazy but i smell lamp oil. Anybody have any reason why? I have had people over to confirm what I smell. They all agree with me. I can assure you, I dont own lamp oil. Its a gas water heater. Any ideas

[@Herbie11]

100% easy fix. Move.

[@jd91dixon]

I just moved in my house yesterday. Wanted to know if you have a solution, I drained my water heater at least four times today. After everything was drained, brown water is still shooting through the pipes. The water heater is 2 years old. What do you think I should do?

[@Herbie11]

Buy another house.

[@arturocubos4077]

​@@Herbie11lmao bruh!

[@vanessacrenshaw3526]

the hot water running slow and it not hot at all

[@trevorrodgers777]

What do you recommend when the bolt is fused to the water heater?

[@TortureBot]

@Supa Trending Daily Wow. Are they that tough to remove? I'd think the 300-600 pounds of water, plus the weight of the tank would keep that sucker still.

[@infringinator]

well folks im on municipal water and my hot water reeks!

[@21boxhead]

CALL YOUR WATER COMPANY

[@AlterofWitchery666]

@@21boxhead yes papa

[@21boxhead]

@@AlterofWitchery666 OK

[@AlterofWitchery666]

@@21boxhead ohh yea

[@TortureBot]

@@21boxhead I did this after an odd smell when they connected our water supply to a different road's supply to increase pressure a few years ago. They came and took samples, tested them, and said everything is fine. I even took a glass of water from the kitchen sink that smelled bad and the water company guy claimed he didn't smell anything. My sniffer ain't the best or most sensitive, and it smelled terrible to me and the wife.

[@ganthonychaparroful]

I usually get the smell when I'm doing the dishes, laundry or from the sump pump. What can I do to prevent or get rid of the smell?

[@AgentOffice]

Hot water or sewer

[@sidviciousness7469]

In bathrooms, I've found overflow drains in sinks, unless regularly flushed with water and or bleach will stink to Highest Heaven.

[@katrinalynn6]

I need a patching plaster tutorial they aren't bad cracks but there are cracks

[@AlterofWitchery666]

Still?

[@rohitbhatnagar7599]

I have heard aluminum gives dementia. With Aluminum pots & pans and other edible and now the water, it is bad news. The smell may be bad with magnesium, but it is a mineral that the body can use.

[@cporter1775]

Not like we’re drinking the hot water

[@codythron5307]

We do making coffee every morning, just like most folks we know.

[@robertmccabe2993]

What causes a rotten egg smell in my Kerosene Furnace??????????

[@TortureBot]

Your kids keep throwing boiled eggs in there as a joke.

[@Herbie11]

​@TortureBot Don't be silly! This is a serious comment section for people that need help. "Kids..." ? He obviously has a chicken living in there. Duh!

[@ruthphillps1690]

What if the water from tank not only smells like sulphur, but the water itself has a black tint to it?

[@Herbie11]

The Amityville house had that too.

[@dannyl6507]

Not toxic? think again, Hydrogen sulfide was used by the British Army as a chemical weapon during World War I. look it up on wikipedia

[@eleanor9182]

Yeah, in high concentrations it's dangerous and can be weaponized. If you're talking about the hydrogen sulfide from your water heater, not so much.

[@Herbie11]

Nah. Look how great my skin looks. Hydrogen sulfide is great. Changed my hair color and my nose looks funny, but hey...

[@BKWhite07]

@@Herbie11😆😆😆😆

[@davenichols9539]

for all other odors put a clothes pin on your nose!

[@Lance-Stroll]

"Hot water heater" as opposed to what? A cold water heater?

[@Miwrn1952]

Well it does heat cold water doesn't it?

[@sminthian]

Yeah, good luck unscrewing your anode rod...

[@Silent_Shadow]

The guy with hair kinda reminds me of Chris Hansen. Just the way he speaks.

[@earlrussell1026]

You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus the Anointed is Lord! Repent and be baptized and believe the Evangelism.

[@Herbie11]

Good lord man! Read the room.

[@zalafinari]

Jesus will remove the sulphur?

[@GMaugis1]

Don't waste time and money,buy a powered anode...

[@tkjazzer]

what is this?

[@TortureBot]

yeah, waste your money on the gadget. The one I saw was $200. Then, pay to power the thing indefinitely.

[@1956bjp]

I have a ??? I put in a water softer 3 month a go because I have hard water . this week when I run HOT water I have the smell rotten egg in my hot water dose the magnesium mix with salt cause the smell the smell is not in the cold water just the hot and it is a new hot water tank came with my new home

[@CBH85]

Too much effort to type out "question"? Only five more letters.