- Leaking sewer gas may be the culprit for the bad odor in your drain. The gas can get trapped in drain pipes. Sewer gas is a combination of ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. This is dangerous, so make sure to ventilate your house. If you smell it in the winter, it's possible your sewer vent stack iced over. Another possibility is that your sewer trap opened up. To rule this out, call a plumber to check your sewer vents and traps.
- Sulfates occur naturally in drinking water, particularly if it is well water. According to the EPA, about 3 percent of public drinking water in the U.S. may have more than the recommended amount of sulfates. If these sulfates become hydrogen sulfide gas, they produce a strong odor resembling rotten eggs. One of the ways this chemical reaction takes place is when sulfates in the water supply come into contact with a magnesium rod, commonly used in hot water heaters. The rod is meant to prevent corrosion but can be replaced with an aluminum rod, available at home improvement stores. To test this, turn the hot water on in multiple drains. If the odor is present only with hot water, this is your most likely culprit.
- You could have a clog in your drain that is growing bacteria. Clogs usually consist of hair, dirt and debris that grow mildew. A buildup of bacterial slime -- called biofilm -- can also cause the nasty smell as water rushes past it and dislodges some of the molecular particles. To remedy this problem, use a chemical drainer or a natural solution of half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar.
- Sulfate-reducing bacteria in your water heater may create a chemical reaction as they come into contact with sulfates, resulting in a rotten egg smell. If you suspect the bacteria may originate in your hot water heater, increase the temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the temperature up for a few hours, then flush it out by running your hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.
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