What’s The Verdict When A Shower Smells Like Rotten Eggs?

If you have never had to experience the foul scent of contaminated tap water, you are among the lucky few. It’s a general complaint and does not matter whether your supply is from a well or the city. And, it is alarming to step into a hot shower that smells like bacteria have invaded it! Ugh! Sulfur!

If you’ve stepped into the shower only to be greeted by a foul, sulfuric smell—much like rotten eggs—you’re not alone. Many homeowners encounter this unpleasant odor, which is often linked to the presence of sul

Whether your water supply gives off odd chemical or organic scents, you might initially feel that your supply has been contaminated, but that is not always the case. At Bill’s Plumbing & Sewer, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves to help you identify the nature & origin of the dreadful scent.

From Where the Stench is Emanating?

Is it from all the faucets & shower heads?

You can try leaving the taps on for a while to waft the smell away. But if the smell remains, you might need to contact your utility provider company as the source is most likely contaminated.

Is it from one particular faucet or showerhead?

It could be a buildup of organic debris in the faucet filter fixture, causing the smell to accumulate. Leave the water to flow for a while, then unscrew & clean the faucet or shower head filter.

Only the hot water smells bad?

It is possibly sediment buildup deteriorating water heating elements in your tank that are the culprit. The heat from the water heater promotes bacterial activity, which produces hydrogen sulfide gas—the main cause of the rotten egg odor. Flushing your water heater can help remove the sediment buildup that encourages bacterial growth. You might need to call us in for a water heater replacement or sediment flushing.

Is both hot & cold smell terrible?

There is something odd with your water supply or the building’s plumbing. We’ll check out your home’s plumbing for issues. There could be old lead pipes or sulfur contaminants, but if it is a problem with the supply, that is a more severe problem.

Types of Smelly Contaminants & Causes

The rotten egg smell in your shower often points to the presence of sulfur-reducing bacteria, which thrive in warm, damp environments like drains and water heaters. These bacteria break down organic matter, producing hydrogen sulfide gas in the process—which is responsible for the foul smell. This problem is typically more noticeable in hot water, as the heat promotes the bacteria’s activity. If the odor is confined to one particular faucet or showerhead, it may also indicate a buildup of organic matter or debris within the fixture.

Chlorine

It is commonly used for bacteria control & shock chlorination of water sources to deter the production of algae & biofilms in water storage facilities. It can give off an odd bleach scent. Let the taps run until the smell is gone.

Sewage & Sulfur

Too much chlorine sometimes combines with organic materials in the water and produces sulfur. The scent is disgusting and can infest drains or the water supply. You can use vinegar & baking soda for drain cleaning, but there may be a health risk if the water supply scent does not clear out.

Fishy Smell

There is possibly decaying organic matter in your drains, or some dead organic form has contaminated the water supply or your storage tank. Please clean & maintain your storage tanks from an entry of external contaminants. If the supply smells like dead animals, do not hesitate to call the water utility!

Gasoline Scent

This is a severe matter indicating chemical & inflammable groundwater contaminants from factories, industries, and buried fuel storage. Water runoff from agricultural land can also be a cause. One thing is for sure, no cigarette breaks in the bathroom!

Removing Waste Material for Cleaning

When waste material builds up in your shower or plumbing, it creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that produce foul smells. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove these materials and reduce the sulfuric odor. The first step is cleaning the showerhead or faucet. Mineral deposits, organic matter, and bacteria can accumulate over time, causing unpleasant smells. Detach the showerhead or faucet filter, soak it in vinegar for a few hours, and then scrub it clean with a brush to remove any buildup.

Next, if the issue seems to be originating from your water heater, a sediment buildup in the tank could be the culprit. Flushing the water heater can help remove the buildup and alleviate the odor. To do this, you’ll need to turn off the power or gas to the heater, drain the tank, and then refill it with fresh water. You might need to repeat this process a couple of times to ensure that all the sediment is removed.

Avoiding Waste Material Buildup Next Time

Preventing future buildup of organic material is crucial to avoiding recurring smells in your shower. Regular maintenance is key. For your plumbing fixtures, it’s important to clean the showerhead and faucet filters every few months. This simple task will help reduce the accumulation of debris, preventing the conditions in which sulfur-reducing bacteria thrive. You can also use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to clean the drains and eliminate any trapped organic material that might be contributing to the odor.

In addition, maintaining your water heater is essential. Flushing the tank once a year helps remove sediment and minerals, keeping your system clean and running efficiently. If your water heater is over a decade old or consistently causing problems, it might be worth considering a replacement to avoid further issues.

Bill’s Plumbing & Sewer, serving Glenview, IL, value your hot morning showers as much we value ours after a good night’s sleep, so the stench is not to be compromised with. However, we are just around the corner for your home plumbing issues & stinky showerheads if the need be.

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