Waste doesn’t smell at all and indeed, it shouldn’t make homes and offices smell. However, it is a common issue or complaint of many homeowners regarding the experience of a strong scent of rotten eggs or the smell of sulphur. As per Plumber in Phoenix, do they experience such a smell while using hot water? Now a question arises: what is the reason behind such a foul smell of hot water? Does cold water smell like rotten eggs? Well, yes, cold water can also be affected by foul odour. The smell will be solid or overwhelming if you are looking for a steamy shower.
Why does water smell bad?
The water Phoenix says that you must deal with hydrogen sulfide if you are witnessing or experiencing nauseating sulfur or rotten egg smell. Hydrogen sulfide is a dangerous gas. It not only affects gross but also can affect the discolouration of your kitchen and bathroom fixtures. If they are present in high amounts, it can also alter the taste of food. Even if the water is treated, it contains ions, including sulfate. If the sulfate is in traces, the health risk is very nil. If the water has a high level of sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB), it consumes sulfate and converts it into hydrogen sulfide. Water treatment plants kill most of the SRB in water.
What is a rotten egg smell?
The dreaded rot, isolated in the hot water supply, results from a chemical reaction in the water heater. Naturally occurring ions of all water supplies called sulfates have a taste for stainless steel. Snacking allows them to transform into hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide gas is mainly found in sewers, septic tanks, volcanoes and large oil and gasoline wells. Hydrogen sulfide gas is also called sewer gas. It is said that sewer gas is sulfur based on the product of bacteria which actively tries to turn the water heater into a spaghetti strainer. If the water heater sits idle for more than a few hours at a time, the inactivity in the tank allows bacteria sufficient time to produce.
Why does it happen?
Rooter Hero says that if a hot water tank sits for more than a few hours, the idle tank is inactivity. Allows bacteria to reproduce in a calm, warm environment. These bacteria find their way to any openings, like tiny cracks in the water heater tank lining. The bacteria hide and reproduce unfettered, releasing their toxic aromas in hot water tanks. It indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide and finds its way into faucets by smell or taste. Some of the symptoms of sulfur sulfide gasses when they are present in low amounts are:
- Burning and watery eyes
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
If the sewer has high exposure, it might result in vomiting, loss of consciousness or even death. The level of hydrogen sulfide from a water heater is rarely severe enough to cause respiratory problems and probably won’t kill you.
Is it the water heater that smells like sulfur?
As per water heater repair in Phoenix, the funky smell of water is due to the ageing of the water heater components. The anode rod drew minerals inside the tank and eventually corroded. It deteriorates the tank. When the anode finally corrodes, the chemical reactions can increase the amount of SRB, Which indicates replacing your water heater to stop the stink.
How to fix it?
Rooter Hero says that if your home has treated water from a municipal like, you will need to drain your water heater. Draining hot water will remove the bacteria built into the tank. You can also replace the anode rod with a zinc or aluminium zinc alloy rod. Zinc doesn’t go with the same reaction with sulfur-reducing bacteria. The alloy rod of zinc reduces the chance of having foul odours in future and as per Rooter Hero, draining and water heater tanks are excellent ways to reduce the odour. If the above two treatments don’t work out, you may opt for Shock Chlorination. Adding chlorine to water will kill the bacteria and significantly reduce the rotten egg smell.