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WESTON · SULFUR SMELL

Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs in Weston

In a Weston home on city water, a rotten-egg smell on the hot taps almost always comes from the water heater, where the anode rod can react with the water and form hydrogen sulfide gas. A sulfur smell outdoors usually comes from irrigation water drawn from a well, lake or canal. Private drinking wells can carry hydrogen sulfide too. A hot-and-cold check plus a test sorts it out quickly.

Three places the smell comes from

Where you notice itMost likely source
Hot taps only, worse after the water sitsTank water heater and its anode rod
Around sprinklers and wet walls outsideIrrigation water from a well, lake or canal
Hot and cold, every tap, on a wellHydrogen sulfide in the groundwater
One sink onlyOften the drain, not the water

The water heater explanation

Tank water heaters use a sacrificial anode rod, often magnesium, to protect the tank from corrosion. Under some conditions, bacteria in the warm, still water react with the rod and give off hydrogen sulfide. Weston's water is disinfected with chloramines, but that residual is meant to protect the pipes, and a warm tank that sits for days can still develop the smell. Weston's own Common Issues page points residents with discolored hot water toward having the water heater inspected, which is also the right first move for a hot-water smell.

A plumber can flush the tank or change the rod type. Check the heater manufacturer's guidance first, since rod changes can affect the warranty.

Irrigation in a city of lakes

Weston is built around lakes and canals, and the city itself irrigates its landscaping from canals and lakes rather than drinking water. Some residential sprinkler systems draw from a lake, canal or shallow well too. That water is untreated and can carry sulfur odor and iron. It affects the yard, walls and windows, not your tap. See orange stains in Weston.

If you are on a private well

Hydrogen sulfide in a drinking well is treated with methods chosen from the well's test, such as aeration, oxidation and filtration. Iron often comes along with it, and both affect what equipment fits. Compare in aeration vs. filtration for sulfur smells and see well water treatment.

What Jorge checks

Hot and cold taps, chloramine, pH and iron, plus the water heater's age and how often each bathroom is used. If the heater is the cause, he will tell you, and you may not need a filter at all. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist

Common questions

Is the rotten-egg smell coming from Weston's water supply?

If it is on hot taps only, it almost always forms in the water heater, not in the city supply.

Why do my sprinklers smell like sulfur?

Irrigation water from wells, lakes or canals is untreated and can carry sulfur odor. It is separate from your drinking water.

Will a whole-home filter stop a water heater smell?

Usually not by itself. The gas forms in the heater, so the fix starts there.

Is a sulfur smell from a well treatable?

Yes, with a system chosen from the well's test, often using aeration or oxidation plus filtration.

Does the test cost anything?

No. The in-home test is free.

Why is the smell worse after vacation?

Hot water sitting in the tank gives the anode reaction time to build up gas. Running the hot water for a few minutes usually clears it temporarily.

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