Have you ever turned on the kitchen sink or shower only to find your water smells like eggs? Sulfur is the main culprit. To narrow down the reasons why sulfur is in the water and find the best solutions, you will need to run both hot and cold water in your house to understand the source of the problem. *Please be aware that Inlet Beach Water System (IBWS) utilizes four alternating wells to supply water to Inlet Beach. The water is chlorinated before being sent out. One of the four wells contains sulfur, so you will periodically smell the sulfur in the water.
A. Only the cold water smells like sulfur: Sulfur is a sulfate-reducing bacteria and is responsible for cold water smelling like rotten eggs. Sulfur bacteria produce slime and can help other bacteria grow, such as iron bacteria. The slime can clog wells, plumbing, and irrigation systems. Poor aeration and pipe corrosion also increase the growth of this type of bacteria. Often, this is why your water smells like sulfur when you first turn it on. If the smell does not disappear after a few minutes, the problem is usually from the incoming water or dirty water softener.
B. Both hot and cold water smells like sulfur: If the odor is present in your hot and cold water, the most common cause is the presence of hydrogen sulfide in your water supply. Essentially, sulfur bacteria create hydrogen sulfide gas by feeding on sulfates in the water. This gas gets trapped in underground water sources, and the bacteria eventually make slime to help other bacteria grow.
C. Only hot water smells like sulfur: If the sulfur smell is present only when you use hot water, the problem could be caused by chemical reactions from your water heater. Most water heaters contain a metal rod called an anode. These rods help eliminate corrosion in your water heater tank. This rod contains either magnesium (Mg) or aluminum (Al), so the metal can react with sulfates in the water to cause the hydrogen sulfide odor. The water heater also produces a warm environment where sulfur bacteria thrive.
Solutions:
1. Replace the Mg Anode with a Zinc Anode, Zinc-Aluminum Anode, or Corro-Protec Anode (for B and C)
2. Have a plumber flush and disinfect the water heater with chlorine. Chlorinating the water heater will remove the sulfuric bacteria. While this option can be effective, you may find that the problem returns over time. (for B and C)
3. Increase the water heater temperature from 120 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but NOT MORE than several hours, to destroy the sulfur bacteria. Remember that this option requires extreme caution since the water temperature will cause a burn in a few seconds. (A, B, and C)
4. Install a whole home water purification system. (for A, B, and C)
A water supply containing too much sulfur can cause the following implications:
Diarrhea, dehydration, offputting water taste & foul water aroma, pipe corrosion causing plumbing issues, and discoloration on your silverware, utensils, and sink fixtures.
While it’s uncommon for sulfur levels in water to become so high that you experience these issues, you should still understand the risks of high levels of sulfur in your water. While sulfur bacteria are not harmful at low or moderate levels, hydrogen sulfide gas in the air can be harmful at high levels. It is essential to remove the gas from the water or vent the gas to the atmosphere. Ignoring sulfur-smelling water can be extremely detrimental to your family’s health. As a result, it’s crucial to find a solution before the sulfur becomes an issue.
Honesty Guard Homewatch provides home visits that monitor water smells, home temperatures, humidity levels, and more. We offer service plans that will schedule plumbers and other service providers to keep your home running safely. Your home is our priority!
📞 ✉️ CONTACT ME TODAY to discover how we can help you manage your South Walton Beach non-rental seasonal home and discuss which of our service plans best suits you.
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