Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?

While you may want a quick answer to why your water smells like year-old eggs, there’s a few variables to figuring out the root of the problem.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is usually the culprit behind rotten smelling water, however you’ll need an in-home test to find out whether there’s actual H2S in your water supply. Because H2S is a gas, it cannot be sent to laboratory as it may dissipate during collection and transportation. And just in case the smell is coming from iron and other minerals built up in your water heater, your local Culligan Man will check on that to make sure you are informed of the right solution for your specific water problem.

If you’re on city water, it’s highly unlikely H2S is actually present in your water. Most likely minerals have built up in your water heater or boiler and are giving off odors from iron bacteria.

If you’re on a well, H2S most certainly can be present and options for treating this noxious gas will vary depending on its concentration and what other contaminants are present in your water supply.