Strong sulpher smell and discolored water

[Bart Bradberry]

I inspected a home that had been vacant possibly a year. When I turned on the water a strong sulpher smell filled the home and the water was very discolored from each fixture. The home is near a large lake so I don't know if the lake has "turned" and a higher bacteria content has been noticed at the treatment plant. The hot water heater was off due to a gas leak at the regulator, so I am not sure the anode rod is the cause. High levels of H2S can be damaging to the water supply lines so I recommended the water quality be tested. I assume that since the home has been vacant for some time a build up of bacteria is now present in the lines. Any ideas out there?

[Ron Chorey II]

The water heater may need to have a chlorine flush done to see if the smell and discoloration goes away. The water heater could have sediment in the bottom. Typically the drain valve does not empty the water heater completely. Recommend evaluation and correction by a licensed plumber. if the sediment build up in the tank is bad enough the tank may need replaced.

[Buck Hartley, CMI]

Agree.

[gfitzgerald]

What does the water look and smell like at the service entrance/ hose bib ?

[Russell J. Hensel]

The color is from the sediment at the bottom of the tank and its just sitting there for some time. The smell is the disintegration of the sacrificial anode tube. We get that smell here all the time because of all the snow birds and the houses sit vacant. Many times just put a hose on the drain at the bottom of the water heater and then open it...it will flush out. Replace the sacrificial anode tubes if needed and all should be ok...at least most of the time. I usually let it run for about 30 minutes.

[Chuck Evans]

That is Hydrogen Sulfide produced by sulfur reducing bacteria growing in the tank. Usually occurs and is most noticeable in houses that have been uninhabited for a while. When I encounter this, I will leave hot water tap running full bore in the tub. You will get the characteristic black / purple cloudy staining most intensely just as the hot water in the tank is about to run out.

Sometimes it can just be flushed out, sometimes you will need to change out the magnesium sacrificial anode to another type (aluminum). In extreme cases it can be treated by overheating the tank (hazardous) or chlorine shock treatment. Both should be left to the plumber.

They say that in extreme cases a hydrogen bubble can form in the top of the tank which can ignite if the faucet is opened near an open source of flame (that would be exiting).

[Bart Bradberry]

Thanks for the insight. The water at the hose bib was clear. As mentioned the house has been vacant for some time so I may have been the first to run some water through in some time. I did mention to the buyer in the report about the anode rod.

[Bart Bradberry]

Joe,
The hot water heater was off at the time of inspection and the odor was coming from the cold side. I did turn on the hot water heater and the smell was present on the hot side as well. The water was clear and I noticed no odor at the exterior faucet.

Bart

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by bbradberry

When I turned on the water a strong sulpher [sic] smell filled the home and the water was very discolored from each fixture.

If you're in the eastern area of Slidell, Louisiana, that's just the nature of the water there.

[Vince Santos]

Brackish water in the water heater. Drain/flush out the tank and refill.

[Aubrey J. Kahn]

Was this city water or well water? When I bought my home the well water was a yellow color and the smell was very strong. After installing a water filtration system with a 129 gal holding tank which was chlorinated and then filtered the water through both charcoal and resin filters the water is soft and we can drink right from the faucet.