Why does my water smell like Rotten Eggs?

If your water has a rotten egg smell you probably have one of three problems. 1. You may have Hydrogen Sulfide Gas in your water. 2. You may have a Bacteria in your water that excretes Hydrogen Sulfide Gas. 3. You may have a zinc annode rod in your water heater and be operating it on softened water. Hydrogen Sulfide Gas is a result of decaying organic material trapped in the earths crust. It can get into your water underground and then be released from the water as it comes out of the faucet. Bacteria gets into your water (this type most likely from the underground source) and inhabits your plumbing and fixtures. They feed on substances in the water and then excrete the gas. This puts the gas in the water and it is released when the water exits the faucet. A zinc annode rod in a water heater can react with the ions in softened water and cause a rotten egg smell. Since Hot water intensifies the release of molecules from the water, all smells are worse from the water heater and make this a confusing situation for you. For help with this problem call us at 512-756-7710 or email us at [email protected]