Bad Taste
The water smells like rotten eggs! And, it has a funky taste!
It is not uncommon for water systems to develop a foul ‘rotten egg’ smell as well as a corresponding poor taste. In many cases, this is caused by the presence of hydrogen sulfide, H2S. Sulfate-reducing bacteria can create this unpleasant odor. During the initial water testing, AquaCheck Water will check to see if sulfates are present in the water. Surprisingly, sulfate-reducting bacteria can build up in your water heater creating a slime which produces a smelly gas. The good news is that there are ways to address this issue. In general, addressing the sulfate at the source or at the point when it enters the home is the best scenario. Remove the sulfate, then you won’t have bacteria to create the smell.
How do we deal with a smelly water heater?
If smell can be isolated to the hot water side of the water system, we have options to address the problem in the water heater. In order for this smell to exist, H2S must be created by having hydrogen available to match up with the Sulfates. If the water contains sulfates, then we have the possibility for sulfur-reducing bacteria to develop. Oddly, a tank style water heater with a sacrificial anode (for corrosion resistance) is a very appealing environment for these bacteria.
Addressing Water Heater Smells: Understanding the Cause and Solutions
The water smells like rotten eggs! And, it has a funky taste! It is not uncommon for water systems to develop a foul ‘rotten egg’ smell as well as a corresponding poor taste. In many cases, this is caused by the presence of hydrogen sulfide, H2S. Sulfate-reducing bacteria can create this unpleasant odor. During the initial water testing, AquaCheck Water will check to see if sulfates are present in the water. Surprisingly, sulfate-reducing bacteria can build up in your water heater creating a slime which produces a smelly gas. The good news is that there are ways to address this issue. In general, addressing the sulfate at the source or at the point when it enters the home is the best scenario. Remove the sulfate, then you won’t have bacteria to create the smell. How do we deal with a smelly water heater? If smell can be isolated to the hot water side of the water system, we have options to address the problem in the water heater. In order for this smell to exist, H2S must be created by having hydrogen available to match up with the sulfates. If the water contains sulfates, then we have the possibility for sulfur-reducing bacteria to develop. Oddly, a tank-style water heater with a sacrificial anode (for corrosion resistance) is a very appealing environment for these bacteria. These anodes work so well that in some cases, they create enough potential between the anode and the surrounding metal tank that the hydrogen can be separated from the water. The bacteria can then take this available hydrogen along with sulfates and bicarbonates already in the water and reduce them to H2S. It’s the bacteria’s food and this creates your rotten egg smell! Unfortunately, the water heater may need replacement to remedy the situation. If the water heater is relatively new, under 6 months, replacement of the anode with a Power Anode with a good flush of the water heater may fix the situation. Power Anodes operate differently than the typical sacrificial anode and do not provide the environment for the bacteria. The other alternative is to replace the water heater with a tankless water heater which does not need an anode. In short, smelling water can be fixed when there is a good understanding of what is creating the smell. Contact AquaCheck today to find out more information!! (346) 777-0539
Does Bad Tasting Water Have You Down?
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