What causes a rotten-egg smell in household water?
The smell usually comes from hydrogen sulfide gas. It can be present in groundwater drawn from a private well, it can form inside a water heater when the anode rod reacts with the water, and in some plumbing systems sulfur-reducing bacteria contribute to it. Each cause calls for a different fix, which is why the first question during a visit is simple: is the smell on the hot tap only, or on hot and cold?
Is sulfur water a well problem or a city-water problem?
It is far more common on private wells, because well water goes straight from the ground to the house without utility treatment. Homes on public water occasionally notice an odor too, and in those cases the water heater is a frequent suspect. Testing at the property separates the two before any equipment is discussed.
How is sulfur removed from well water?
Depending on concentration and the rest of the water chemistry, treatment can involve oxidizing the hydrogen sulfide and filtering it out, often as part of a larger well-water system that also handles iron or hardness. Low hot-side-only odors are sometimes resolved at the water heater instead. The right approach depends on the numbers from your test, not on the smell alone.
What does the free water analysis check?
A water specialist checks where the odor shows up, tests the water, looks at the well equipment or utility connection, the water heater and any existing treatment, and explains the findings in plain language. There is no cost and no obligation to buy.
Related: well water treatment, whole house water filtration, water softener installation, iron removal.
