Sulfur Odor,2 Sinks Only

• Hydrogen sulfide smell from two bathroom sinks only. Showers, kitchens, etc. fine.
• Degree of odor varies from none to barely noticeable to very noticeable.
• Odor will fade if faucet is left running for 20 seconds or so.
• Odor can arise whether faucet has been recently used or dormant.
• Most noticeable sink is closest to water heater.
• Coming from hot water only.
• Anode rod removed two years ago. Not replaced. Local water expert said our area water doesn't rapidly deteriorate water tanks. He wasn't the one who removed rod.
• Local water expert confirmed my home test kit results that there is nothing wrong with our water (bacteria, iron, rust, etc.)
• Drained water from hot water heater. No sign of corrosion and NO smell whatsoever.
• On a well. Two neighbors say they have smelled something like that in the past but nothing recent.
• I do soften my water with a GE home system.
• Tried bleach in the sink and drain overflow. Seems to help for a very short time, but within a day smell is back.
• Haven't tried to replace supply lines which are plastic partially then to copper then to fixture.
• Haven't tried to bleach or peroxide my hot water heater yet.
• Guess I'm stumped why only two fixtures and at random. Don't think it's my well water if that's the case.

Thanks!!!

DumbOnPlumbing said:

• Local water expert confirmed my home test kit results that there is nothing wrong with our water (bacteria, iron, rust, etc.)

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Have him tell you what's wrong.

I'd peroxide the WH and put in a new aluminum/zinc anode rod.

bacteria like to grow in plastic faucets as well as water heaters, though this sounds like a water heater problem. Usually, I'd recommend flushing the heater well and making sure the water temperature is sufficient to prevent bacteria growth. It would be pretty amazing if the water smells of hydrogen sulfide on the hot side and there are no bacteria in it.

Odors are either bacteria or chemical. The two faucets tips could be contaminated. You can remove the tips and sanitize them in so bleach water and the faucets with the glass of bleach water.

If that doesn't work, set the temp of the heater to 140*. That kills all bacteria. Or sanitize the heater with about a quart of regular unscented bleach. You might want to sanitize the softener with a 1/4 cup of the same bleach in a gallon of water poured into the water in the salt tank and do a manual regeneration.

Unscented? How do you know when it is flushed out?

Unscented means it has no perfume in it. Just regular 5.5 or 6% bleach. It will have a very strong smell of chlorine and nothing else.

Great ideas! Thanks.

Just did the faucet tips. Both had a little debris but didn't smell. Bleached them anyway. Since bleaching the overflow sink holes I haven't smelled the smell in a few days. Will try the bleach in the water heater and softener if the tips doesn't do it.

Will keep you posted. THANKS!!!