If you have the smell of rotten eggs in your home, you might consider lighting a candle to mask the unpleasant smell. While candles do improve smells, they don’t eliminate the roots.
Warning: If your home smells like rotten eggs, never light candles, matches, or other sources of sparks or flames until you are sure that the cause of the problem is not from natural gas, propane, or methane sources.
The smell of rotten eggs can be immediately recognized and may indicate a serious problem in your home. The two most common sources of rotten egg smell are natural gas leaks and sewer gas escaping.
Other major causes of rotten egg smell in a house can come from drains, well water, aired drywall, water heaters, or rather, rotten eggs. If the fridge has been rummaged through and the trash has been emptied, but the bad smell persists, it may be because there is something bigger wrong.
Here are 6 reasons why your house smells like rotten eggs and how to fix it, as well as when to need help from a professional.
Gas Leaks
When you have rotten egg smell in your house, it’s the first culprit to eliminate because it’s the most harmful. Natural gas leaks can lead to potential house fires or gas poisoning in family members.
Warning: If you suspect that rotten egg smell may be caused by a natural gas leak in your home, leave your home immediately and call your gas utility using a phone located outside your home. Do not test for natural gas leaks on your own or ignite sparks or flames for any reason. Do not re-enter your home until the utility company has signaled the disarming alarm.
Although natural gas itself has no odor, natural gas companies add a chemical called mercaptan to the supply, which produces a sulfur odor when it leaks.
If you smell rotten eggs or notice any signs of a gas leak, leave the house immediately and call a professional on the phone outside the house. Your utility technician can verify that the rotten egg smell is indeed a natural gas leak. If a natural gas leak is not the source of the odor, you can investigate other possible causes.
Sewer Gas
If a broken drain is located in the yard, the broken drain may cause sewer gases to seep into the interior or exterior of the house. In addition to pipe breakage, pipe blockages can also cause this odor. If you suspect this is the cause of the sulfur smell, contact the nearest plumber.
Warning: Sewer gas contains methane, which can become flammable at high concentrations.
Dry Drains
Similar to your home’s sewer system, infrequently used drains in the bathroom can also cause rotten egg smells.
The sinks and bathtubs in your bathroom are connected to the P-trap, which in turn is connected to your home’s drainage system. This U-shaped device captures sewer gases and prevents them from leaking into your home with the help of water at the bottom. If the water evaporates, the gas can leak into your home, leaving a nasty odor.
The good news is that this is the easiest way to fix it. Just put some water in the sink or bathtub for a few minutes to allow the water layer to re-form. If that doesn’t solve the problem, call your plumber.
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Houses that use well water occasionally smell rotten eggs due to the build-up of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is produced when the decaying vegetation beneath naturally produces sulfur bacteria.
While sulfur water is generally safe to drink, water that smells of rotten eggs can be very uncomfortable.
Test if this is the cause by filling the sink with cold water and turning off the water source for at least 6 hours. Smell the water, and if you smell a strong smell of sulfur, you have already found out the cause. Plumbers recommend installing carbon filters on the faucets you drink and reverse osmosis under the sinks.
Water Heater
If you only smell rotten eggs when your hot water is running, it’s most likely related to your water heater. Water heaters are constructed of anode rods, which can corrode and deteriorate over time.
When it corrodes, it interacts with other chemicals in the water, creating a sulfur odor. This is another simple fix that requires a licensed plumber to replace the anode road.
Should I be concerned if my house smells like rotten eggs?
The smell of rotten eggs in my house requires immediate action, not only to make the house smell better, but more importantly, to make sure everything is safe.
The cause of most sulfur odors is harmless and defective items need to be replaced, but if you suspect the cause is a gas leak, get everyone out of the house and call a professional immediately.
How to Get Rid of Rotten Egg Smell
The best way to completely eliminate the smell of rotten eggs in your home is to address the cause. If you replace something, it may take hours or days to completely eliminate the odor, but issues such as dry drains may resolve within minutes. During this time, use an air diffuser, candle, or cleaning product to boost the air.
When to Consult a Professional
Start by calling a professional to determine if the source of the smell is not a natural gas leak or damage to the sewer system. Professionals need to further inspect the area and make repairs if necessary, as well as make sure the area is safe.
However, if the professional doesn’t identify the problem as a gas leak, there are a few other possible causes that you can address on your own when it comes to identifying the sulfur smell, such as refilling a dry drain or fixing a well water problem.
If you suspect that your water heater anode rod has corroded, you will also need to contact a professional.
