Ask Me Help Desk - Rotten Eggg Smell Under Sink

Rotten Eggg Smell Under Sink

I have had a rotten egg smell that appears to be coming from under my sink for weeks. I even had a plumber come over to check it out but it didn't happen while he was here. It happens when my washer is on the second rinse cycle or the first time I drain the water in the sink after washing dishes in the morning. I don't have a garbage disposal and I have tried anti clogging chemicals. I even tried running water through the air vents on the roof. Nothing has worked thus far. Can anyone help:(

Why does the water coming from the new hot water heater smell like rotten eggs? After it runs a while, it gets better

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmwhite00

Why does the water coming from the new hot water heater smell like rotten eggs? After it runs a while, it gets better

I don't have a nw water heater

3 Attachment(s)

Hello Raphael,

How old is your water heater, is it gas or electric?

It sounds like you have problem with Anode rod and it can be changed, see the images below, Thanks.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by afaroo

Hello Raphael,

How old is your water heater, is it gas or electric?

It sounds like you have problem with Anode rod and it can be changed, see the images below, Thanks.

John

Thanks Afaroo

Its about 8 years old... I didn't know this rod existed. I will check for it and respond asap

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raphael13

Thanks Afaroo

Its about 8 years old...I didn't know this rod existed. I will check for it and respond asap

I found anode rod but it won't come out. I released the pressure valve and drained the tank.

Am I missing something

Raphael,

You can replace the anode, but it's not easy. Most tanks are located somewhere without enough headroom to easily remove the old rod or insert a new one. To begin the process, turn off the electricity (or gas) to the heater, shut its water supply, and open a hot-water faucet to relieve pressure inside the appliance. Next, loosen the anode use an 11/16-in. socket and socket wrench. Bend the old anode into a curve as you withdraw it. Be careful—corroded anodes are quite brittle.

If you cannot bend and remove the anode, you'll have to drain the tank, disconnect it from its plumbing and electrical or gas connections, and tip it sideways.

Next, install a flexible anode. This product is shaped like a string of link sausages rather than a typical solid rod. Its unusual design works in low-clearance areas because you can gently bend the anode into an arc as you slip it into the opening in the top of the heater, Good Luck.

John

I tried removing the rod but it absolutely will not budge. I open the pressure release valve, emptied the tank and it still wouldn't budge. I also tried flushing the tank with bleach and the water smells better but I have particles in the water now.

I starting to feel like this is a hopeless situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raphael13

I tried removing the rod but it absolutely will not budge. I open the pressure release valve, emptied the tank and it still wouldn't budge. I also tried flushing the tank with bleach and the water smells better but I have particles in the water now.

I starting to feel like this is a hopeless situation.

You have been very helpful afaroo... I will leave you alone now

If you have access to an air wrench it may break the joint loose, they are always very tight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by letmetellu

If you have access to an air wrench it may break the joint loose, they are always very tight.

Thanks letmetellu I will post how it works out

I forgot that it is possible that you could have two anode rods in your water heater. One that is just a large nut in the top of the water heater, the second is an extension of the hot water nipple going down into the heater.

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

I also tried flushing the tank with bleach and the water smells better but I have particles in the water now.

What color are the particles? Can you squeeze them or are they hard? Remove the aerato,(see image) and clean the screens. Did you flush your heater like this? R For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white or yellow grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my answer, Tom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

What color are the particles? Can you squeeze them or are they hard? Remove the aerato,(see image) and clean the screens. Did you flush your heater like this? r For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run untill the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white or yellow grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my answer, Tom.

Because I couldn't get the anode rod out I tried flushing the heater instead. A red dust was mixed in the water when I flushed the faucets. I then started to see black particles in the water. I removed and cleaned the washers and the water has been clear ever since. The smell however isn't gone away . I now believe its something other than the anode rod.

Raphael... I gotta ask. Does this smell happen with the cold water and the hot water or only when using the hot water? Any chance you can isolate this to hot, cold, or both? Let us know...

I'm thinking we may have jumped to conclusions as rmwhite00 mentioned the water heater and water heaters are known for issues like this... but if smell also strong with cold water then we start to ask different questions.

Since you don't mention this as issue at other sinks/fixtures, I'm wondering if your kitchen sink PTRAP is getting siphoned by capillary action or something like that... hmmm?

MARK

3 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Raphael...I gotta ask. Does this smell happen with the cold water and the hot water or only when using the hot water? Any chance you can isolate this to hot, cold, or both? Let us know...

I'm thinking we may have jumped to conclusions as rmwhite00 mentioned the water heater and water heaters are known for issues like this...but if smell also strong with cold water then we start to ask different questions.

Since you don't mention this as issue at other sinks/fixtures, I'm wondering if your kitchen sink PTRAP is getting siphoned by capillary action or something like that...hmmm?

MARK

It happens when the washer drains and sometimes when the water is drained from the sink after washing dishes in the morning. The kitchen is one room away from the laundry room. It really doesn't matter if the water is cold or hot.

The smell comes from the kitchen in either case.

I attached picctures that may help. The traps were there for a long time before the smell.

Bear with me... more questions.

The smell only shows up at the kitchen sink and the washing machine... how about the rest of the house? Check at different sink, first thing in the morning, let us know if still both hot and cold water here.

Do you have a water softener?

Have you been away for an extended period recently?

Thanks...

Quote:

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Bear with me...more questions.

The smell only shows up at the kitchen sink and the washing machine...how about the rest of the house? Check at different sink, first thing in the morning, let us know if still both hot and cold water here.

Do you have a water softener?

Have you been away for an extended period of time recently?

Thanks...

I have never been away for an extended period and it doesn't happen at the other sinks. In fact it didn't happen this morning. The only difference is that I also running the dishwasher which is about a year old. I don't have a water softener. I always feel optimistic until I wash clothes again.

There is one long shot. Around the time that this first started happening, the city was doing some work on the sewer system near my house. We mentioned this to the first plumbmer but he didn't believe they were connected.

Could it be that a pipe burst under the house? (worst case scenario)

Unlikely... but you never know. Wonder if the bleach shock helped? By the way, if you do it again, use 3-4 pints of hyrdogen peroxide... ;) Safer alternative that is said to work as good or even better than bleach

Let us know again AFTER the next wash.

MARK