City Water smelling like sulfur??

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#1

Originally Posted By: mzwerin
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Had an interesting situation on this morning’s inspection. In a 1959 house with a “seemingly correct” City Water hookup, I found the all too common sulfur smell coming out of all the sinks, showers etc. when testing out the plumbing conditions.


I hate too appear too novice, but what could cause this? icon_question.gif


1) The the city water meter was moving when I had lots of water running in the house.
2) The smell dissipated after maybe 15 minutes of running the water.
3) Hot water tank had been turned off at the main service panel; took more than 40 minutes to produce hot water.
4) Hot water tank is 21 yrs. old, though in "clean" condition.
5) The home has a well hook-up for the irrigation system.

Opinions, explanations, comments, jokes?

#2

Originally Posted By: wcampbell
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Sounds er… smells like a bad anode rod inside the water heater.

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This Ole House-Home Inspections


William A. Campbell TREC # 6372


Serving the Texas Coastal Bend


(361) 727-0602 (home)


(361) 727-0055 (office)


(361) 229-4103 (cell)

#3

Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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I agree that it could be a bad anode rod, but, was the house vacant for a long period of time? I have found bad smelling city water several times in homes which were vacant for a prolonged period. Also, our city water here in Florida don’t smell or taste that great anyway :-&


Blaine

#4

Originally Posted By: mzwerin
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Yeah. Both could be the reason; tho I expect the problem really is a bad water heater anode in as much as the unit is 20 years old.


Thanx guys for your input ![icon_cool.gif](upload://oPnLkqdJc33Dyf2uA3TQwRkfhwd.gif)

#5

Originally Posted By: jfarsetta
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If the water heater has been turned to a low setting, and the how water hasn’t been used for a prolonged period of time, bacteria can breed inside.


Now, in those instances (I see them a lot in estates) the water smells like sewage.

The sulpher odor is definitely a different animal. As there is a well sonnected somewhere in the home, it would be prudent to determine if the well and city water are cross-fed at any location.

The long timeframe between getting hot water makes me think that the heater may have been turned down. Was it? Was the house vacant for a while?



Joe Farsetta

#6

Originally Posted By: mzwerin
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solutions to the smelly water issue from this morning.


I'd like to think the home buyers will find resolution with a new anode in the water heater. (Certainly the 1st place to start to solve this). I'm going to present all of the above as "possible" reasons for the problem and let them address this with a licensed, qualified plumber. That is, versus me telling them whats wrong and having them assume I have all the answers. Good idea?

#7

Originally Posted By: jfarsetta
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, though… If you thought it was a bad anode from the start, why did you ask the question?


The anode being bad can account for the water being slow to heat, but the smell.... City water should be treated at the source. Filtration removes lots of te smells, including sulpher. As to the "clean" condition of the tank, how can you tell what's going on inside the tank? If the water heater was turned off at the source (panel), I assume it wasn't used in a while. How could a bad anode cause a bad, sulpher smell? Real question, guys...

#8

Originally Posted By: wcampbell
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Joe, try this about anode rods:


http://www.dupagehealth.org/ehs/ws/fs/wq.asp

--
This Ole House-Home Inspections
William A. Campbell TREC # 6372
Serving the Texas Coastal Bend
(361) 727-0602 (home)
(361) 727-0055 (office)
(361) 229-4103 (cell)