Read the clue
| Clue | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Hot taps only, worse in the morning | Water heater anode rod |
| Hot and cold, on a well | Hydrogen sulfide in groundwater |
| Outdoors when sprinklers run | Untreated irrigation water |
| One drain only | The drain, not the water |
| Musty or earthy, not eggy | Often a different cause; tell Jorge what it smells like |
The water heater
Tank heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, commonly magnesium. In warm water that sits, bacteria can react with it and give off hydrogen sulfide. WASD's chloramine residual protects the distribution system, but a heater in a guest suite or a house closed up for weeks can still develop the smell. A plumber can flush the tank or change the anode type; check the manufacturer's guidance and warranty first.
Tankless heaters don't use an anode rod the same way, so a hot-only smell in a home with a tankless unit is worth describing carefully to Jorge.
A town of 23 lakes
Miami Lakes counts 23 lakes and a network of canals the town keeps clean. Some properties irrigate from a lake, canal or shallow well. That water is untreated and can smell of sulfur and carry iron. It affects the yard, walls and windows, not your tap. Miami-Dade's watering rules apply to these sources too: odd-numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday, even-numbered Thursday and Sunday, before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
Private drinking wells
Hydrogen sulfide in a drinking well is treated with equipment chosen from the well's test, such as aeration, oxidation and filtration. Iron often comes along with it. Compare in aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells, and see well water in Miami Lakes.
Simple checks before the visit
- Smell a glass of cold, then hot, water away from the sink.
- Note when it's worst: morning, after travel, after sprinklers run.
- Check whether irrigation runs from the county meter or another source.
What Jorge does
He compares hot and cold taps, measures chloramine, pH and iron, and looks at the heater's age and type. If the heater is the cause, he'll tell you, and you may not need a filter at all. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamilakes-fl.gov/our-community/history/
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/conservation/outdoor-water-restrictions.page
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist