Tip: Shower Drain’s Rotten-Egg Odor Is No Yolk | Showering Enthusiast

The Washington Post:

Question: We have a terrible smell, like rotten eggs, coming out of our shower drain. On the advice of a plumber, we’ve been using a product that clears gunk with enzymes and bacteria, but the smell is still there. Our house is only four years old and the smell has just recently appeared. What can we do about it?

Answer: Smells are often worst in a shower because the heat and spray circulates gases and vapors around the room.

There’s a slim chance that the smell could indicate that sewage is somehow seeping into your piping. Rule that out by getting your water tested.

If you are on a private well, also have the sulfate level checked because this is the more likely cause of the smell. If you are on a public water system, call your water company and ask what minerals are in the supply.

If your water contains sulfates (picked up from mineral deposits in the ground), it could be turning into hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs, in your water heater. Many water heaters have a magnesium rod to prevent corrosion, and when sulfate-laden water comes in contact with magnesium it results in a chemical reaction that forms the smelly gas. If this is the problem, you can eliminate the smell by replacing the anti-corrosion rod with one made of aluminum or other material, available at plumbing supply houses. More.