Why does my hot water smell but not cold?

This smell is typically caused by sulfate bacteria that can develop within the tank. This issue usually happens when warm water is left too long in the tank and bacteria builds up in the water. This problem can also happen if you have well water and are not treating the water with chlorine in the well.

Can a hot water heater make your water smell?

You are most likely on well water, and there is a bacteria, known as SRB (sulfate-reducing bacteria), that gets into water heaters and, although harmless to humans from a pure health perspective, creates the odor by digesting naturally occurring sulfur-based elements in the water, releasing tiny amounts of hydrogen …

Why does only my cold water smell like rotten eggs?

If your cold water smells like rotten eggs, the odor is usually caused by the levels of sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide gas that can be found in a building’s water supply.

Why does my water smell when I first turn it on?

Your water smells of sewage due to bacteria in your drain pipe producing gases that arise when the faucet is turned on. Hydrogen sulfide is the gas most likely to cause this sewage smell. Hydrogen sulfide can be smelled at levels as low as . 5 parts per million.

How do I get rid of the rotten egg smell in my water?

Chlorine bleach can effectively remove medium to high levels (over 6 mg/l) of hydrogen sulfide. The chlorine in the bleach chemically reacts with (oxi- dizes) the hydrogen sulfide eliminating the “rotten egg” odor. Chlorine bleach also reacts with iron or manganese, and disinfects water supplies.

How do you get rid of sulfur smell in cold water?

Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.

How do I get rid of bacteria in my hot water heater?

Up the thermostat setting as you chlorinate, or while the chlorine is going into the water heater you place a UV-C sanitizer light on the water supply. They cost in the upper $400 range and will kill 99.9 percent of the bacteria that passes it.

Why does hot water smell different from cold water?

Make sure that hot water smells, but cold water does not. Often, the smell originates from a magnesium heating rod in the hot water tank. If the heater has a magnesium rod, a licensed plumber can replace it with an acceptable alternative such as an aluminum rod.

Why does my hot water heater smell so bad?

How to address and remove bacteria in your water heater: Making sure bacteria growth in the water heater is the issue: Your hot water smells, but your cold water does not.This generally means that the smell originates from the magnesium heating rod in your hot water tank.

What to do if your hot water smells bad?

First, ensure that both the cold and hot water have the smell and that the smell is coming out of one or several faucets, but not all. Fill a glass with water from the sink that has the smell, then step away from the sink and swirl the water around inside the glass few times.

Why does my water smell bad when I Turn on the water?

If the water smells normal, the odor is coming from bacteria build-up in your drain. To remove the smell emanating from your drain, pour ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain followed by ¼ cup of white vinegar.

What does sulfur smell like in hot water?

These unpleasant smells are commonly described as ”water smells like rotten eggs” or ”sulfur smellin hot water”. The odor issues can cause numerous problems for the inhabitants, and often becomes a topic of conversation when guests are around.