If the sulfur smell is caused by bacteria in your pipes, that may get rid of it. That’s why you should continue to run water over the garbage disposal for about 30 seconds after it has finished making grinding noises. We serve Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Peachtree City, Lawrenceville and the entire metro area! We called a water quality company and they told us the sulfur wasn’t harmful, just yucky. Sulphates occur naturally in drinking water. 13 years old and agree to the Eggman. But if you already have the problem…. Cleaning and disinfecting the drain can stop the sulfur … It is very faint for the most part, but once or twice it has been relatively strong. If your water smells like rotten eggs, first of all, don’t panic. Mr. Plumber is the plumbing contractor Atlanta area residents depend on for quality service. We had trouble talking to the server. Basically, it’s a U-shaped pipe that contains water. What is your favorite springtime activity. The hydrogen sulfide gas results from decomposing organic material and can be produced by human and animal wastes. Stand near the sink as the water flows into the drain. It's not the trap because it's in pretty good shape, and it's not sulfur in the water because the smell isn't coming from the toilet or anywhere else, only the drain. edited to add: If you have a septic tank, check to see when it was last emptied. Sulphate levels. It seems natural to assume that the toilet would be the obvious source of any sewage smells, but if there’s water in the bowl, chances are the commode is not the problem. I always hear that it is comparable, but I have never thought they smelled the same. I was doing a load of laundry and it smelled kind of like an egg salad sandwich. This question is in the General Section. If both glasses smell fine, run the same faucets you took water from and let the water drain. Just turn on the gas for 10 seconds without igniting the flame, and see if it smells the same. If it smells like rotten eggs, repeat the steps using a different tap. When your bathroom sink smells like rotten eggs, the cause is likely contaminated water and drains, blocked vents, or a dry P-trap. In LA, the Dept. If these sulphates become hydrogen sulphide gas, they... Bacterial growth in drain. One of the most common reasons for a kitchen sink to have a rotten egg or moldy smell is from grease or fat getting stuck in your drains. I guess the smell can also be caused by a certain part on a hot water heater (which wouldn’t explain why you smell it outside) or even by a sewage problem. If you don’t use your sink for a while, the water in the trap can evaporate, allowing the nasty gas into your home. Clogged Drains, Blockages, and Backups . Backdrafting is when negative air pressure draws air or gases into a building. All drain lines have a trap in them that prevents sewer gas from coming up into your home through the drain. (strong sewer smell). Solution 2 – Clogged Drain. The smell of sulfur is everywhere, especially the water. If you have a neighbor with a septic tank, that could be the source of the smell but it shouldn’t affect your water unless you have a well that is too close to the septic tank. Okay, so this person dumped a bunch of grease down the drain. You must check if the smell is coming from the water or the drain. So, I would agree with the suggestions above and call the gas company and insist that they come and check it out. @TheOnlyNeffie I have no idea if Ohio has a lot of sulfur in the groundwater and soil. This is called septicity, and is the cause of the H₂S and the bad odours that come with it. Baking soda isn't doing anything to help it out. Off and on for the last several days I notice that I catch a quick whiff of what smells like rotten egg when I am outside of my house. Solved! If you need plumbing help, contact us. It gets a bit harder when you are experiencing a clogged basement drain. Because I am paranoid, I’d use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth until the problem was solved. However we are not trying to worry you as these cases are extremely rare due to the low H2O mixer to air. But, I guess if someone is unfamiliar with the smell added to gas, they might not know what they are smelling. This does not smell the same. The smell of sulfur is different than what is added to gas. When a plumbing vent is clogged, a sewer smell can back up into your home. If the foul smell comes from all of the pipes, then chances are, it might be something in the water supply. Oops. Call on the experienced professionals at Mr. Rooter® Plumbing to evaluate and fix your drains if they smell like sulfur. Beside the offensive odor, sewer gas can be hazardous, especially over an extended period. Namely, you should just let water through your shower drain, sink drain, toilet drain, and every other drain that you can find. When you pour grease down your drain, it can congeal to the sides. I agree with @JilltheTooth what you are describing is a marker scent they put in natural gas….call the gas Co. stat! If your farts smell like rotten eggs, it's likely due to your diet. So … I’m not doubting you answer, because that was one of my concerns.. I’m just poorly educated about situations like this. What you can do: Remove any obstructions in the plumbing vents. A GI doctor explains which foods cause sulfur farts and what you can do to tame the stench. I agree that the well might be a likely source of the problem. If none of the ideas above solve the problem, you might want to look around and see if anyone has spread mulch recently. Bacteria can grow inside corroded pipes. I think the odor is just stuck in my nose! Please try again. Ours was caused by minerals in the well water. This smells like rotten eggs. If you can smell the sulfur in the water, pour another glass of water from a different sink and do the same thing. I never did figure out what was but we had just had a tremendous amount of rain the day or so before and I thought it might have been related to that. Don’t take chances with your plumbing. I swear (though it may be my imagination) that I can just barely smell it in my bathwater, as well. Go outside and take a whiff of the water. We have city water in our home, but we also have a private well on our property. To join, you must be at least According to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfur , either spelling is acceptable. If mold grows inside your shower drain, it can cause a musty stink. If I have a gas leak or have left one of the burners on I know that’s what it is. Leaking sewer gas may be the culprit for the bad odour in your drain. Inside a pipe, if there is a lack of oxygen, microorganisms feed and produce hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs. Have you been putting your system through extra duties with football parties, holiday gatherings or general overuse? So don’t put grease down the drain! How to Get Rid of Basement Rotten Eggs Smell? If the smell is coming from the drains then the P trap is not sealing as it should, a P trap works by holding water in the bottom bend thus sealing any smells in the drainage system and not allowing them to pass into living areas. Rotten egg smell in drain pipes Sewage. That means common odors may come from tap water, and a nauseating rotten egg smell may be one of them. A Common Cure When a Washing Machine Drain Smells Like Rotten Eggs To cure a stagnant water smell from a washing machine, push the washtub back on the rubber seal between the front loader door and the tub, and take a look. There are bacteria in the ground, sewage, contaminated water, and pipes that produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. What do you think about politically correct signs for ... Do you think this experiment will succeed? | 1787 Williams Dr, Marietta, GA 30066 |, Home Automation, Entertainment and Security, Using vinegar and baking soda to clear drains, 5 Food Items You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal, Vinegar and Baking Soda: A Powerful Drain Clearing Combination. Genevieve is in a smelly situation: “Hi AT, My bathroom stinks like rotten eggs! Sewer gas is harmful to health, not just offensive to the nostrils. It is worth noting that certain types of fungi break down soap scum into … In case your P-trap is dry, you just need to flush it with some water. To prevent future problems, you can add screens to the vents. If not, this is likely the problem. It's not the trap because it's in pretty good shape, and it's not sulfur in the water because the smell isn't coming from the toilet or anywhere else, only the drain. Although, my girlfriend’s parent’s house is on well water in southern MI and I hate taking a shower in their house because the water smells so much like sulfur. That sounds like something worth looking into. I swear (though it may be my imagination) that I can just barely smell it in my bathwater, as well. Under normal conditions, hydrogen sulfide is colorless, flammable gas. A common household problem is bad smells coming from drains, whether it be in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, patio, etc., they end up spreading through the whole house.The main thing is to avoid washing waste or rubbish down the drain or toilets and routinely clean and maintain the pipes. At low levels, it has a strong odor similar to rotten eggs. Gas companies will often add an odor like that to alert users of a leak. What to Do About Sulfur Smell in the House Track down the source of that “rotten eggs” odor ASAP. I think it is coming from the tub. How does foul drain smell get into my home. The gas company here uses mercaptan as an odorant for natural gas and the smell is very distinctive, at least to me. But if the bowl doesn’t fill up as it should, the problem could be a broken seal, in which case it may be time to call your plumber. I would think anyone with a gas stove knows that smell anyway. Sewer gas happens as a byproduct of breaking down human waste. For lack of better terminology. If you installed or had someone else install a new sink, bathtub or other drain line, was a proper trap installed? The gas can get trapped in drain pipes. The rotten egg odor is caused by levels of sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide gas. I just assumed that I was wrong. For a simple fix, you can try this and see if it works. 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