Water Heater Repair: Getting Rid Of The Sulfur Smell In Your Hot Water Heater | Arlington, TX

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You turn on the water and the first thing that you smell is rotten eggs or a sulfur smell that knocks you off your feet. This is a sign that there’s something wrong with your water heater and that you may need water heater repair services very soon. This article will look at what causes the sulfur smell and the type of repair services that can solve this issue.

What Causes the Sulfur Smell?

A disgusting sulfur or rotten egg smell in your hot water can be due to many reasons. The two most popular reasons are the presence of a sulphate-reducing bacteria in the water heater or a chemical reaction between the magnesium anode in the water heater and the hot water. These two issues are fairly easy to solve and fix.

If the odor is present in both hot and cold water, then you likely don’t need any water heater repair services. The problem likely stems from the groundwater. Our plumbers can assess the quality of the water for you to see whether there are any issues. If you smell a rotten egg smell, then the most likely scenario is that there’s hydrogen sulfide gas present in the water. Since this issue stems from your water supply, it’ll be a lot more expensive to fix. You may even have to talk to the city depending on what the issue is. Our plumbers, however, can help you diagnose the problem and figure out what options are available.

How to Get Rid of the Sulfur Smell

There are several different ways that you can get rid of the sulfur smell. To figure out which solution may be best for your situation, you’ll first need to determine what the source of the smell is. This is why you should call one of our plumbers in Arlington, TX. They’d be happy to come out to your home whenever you’re available to take a look at your plumbing, especially the water heater, to see what may be the issue.

#1. Prevent Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria from Growing Inside the Tank

Sulphate-reducing bacteria thrive in low-oxygen environments, which is why they love water heaters. If our plumbers have determined that sulphate-reducing bacteria is to blame, you have several options to choose from.

A temporary solution is a concentrated chlorination treatment. Our plumbers will add a predetermined amount of chlorine to the water to get rid of the smell. While this will get rid of the smell, keep in mind that it’s a temporary solution, which means that the odors will be back in 1 or 2 months. A more permanent solution is to change the environment inside your water heater by installing a special type of anode. The core of this anode is usually made of titanium. It’ll help get rid of the smell by changing the environment inside the water heater. The bacteria won’t be able to live in that environment.

#2. Replacing the Magnesium Anode with an Aluminum Anode or Something Else

Sometimes, the smell is caused by a weird reaction between the magnesium anode rod and the hot water in the tank. If this is the case, the best solution is to replace the magnesium anode with an aluminum anode. Once the aluminum anode is installed, the odor should disappear completely. This is a fairly simple and easy water heater repair service, and our professionals should get the job done within one afternoon. All we have to do is get the right part for your water heater.

With that said, some plumbers may recommend a different type of anode, like one that has a titanium core. This is because anodes are designed to break down and dissolve. Once this happens, the debris from the anode will harden up and sink to the bottom of the water heater. Aluminum anodes will lead to aluminum debris in the water heater. These minerals may then travel to your tap or to your bathwater.

The aluminum may end up damaging some of your plumbing appliances, so that you need more than just water heater repair services in the long run. Some people also feel uneasy knowing that there are aluminum residues in their water, as they’re worried that the aluminum may be detrimental to their health if ingested for long periods of time. You can discuss which type of anode may be best for your home while our plumbers are over there to perform water heater repair services.

What If the Odor Doesn’t Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

Let’s say you turn on the hot water and you instantly get a whiff of something bad; however, it doesn’t smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. This could still be a sign that there’s something wrong with your water heater and that you need water heater repair services for your home immediately. You should give us a call as soon as you can. You don’t want to wait, as the problem is not going to get better. Also, you want to avoid ingesting any of the water, as it may be hazardous to your health.

Get Water Heater Repair Services from Tioga Plumbing & Electric

If your hot water smells like rotten eggs or if you’ve noticed any odor coming from, call Tioga Plumbing & Electric at (682) 224-0757, and we’ll send one of our contractors out right away to help you diagnose the problem. Our company has been around since 1953 and has delivered all kinds of affordable and high quality plumbing services. Water heater repair services are no exception. We are familiar with all types of water heaters and can diagnose and solve even the toughest plumbing problems out there.

For over 60 years, we have worked tireless to build a reputation as one of the best plumbing companies in Arlington, TX. We are a privately-owned, local company who put a huge emphasis on honest, respect, communication and responsibility. We have worked hard to create wonderful relationships with those in our community. We’d be more than happy to work with you on any water heater repair services.

Even if you’re not sure what’s wrong (or if anything’s wrong for the matter), don’t hesitate to give us at Tioga Plumbing & Electric a call or contact us online. We’d be happy to help you figure out if there’s anything that can be done to solve your woes.