Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs? Common Causes & Solutions for Ohio Homes

June 27th, 2025 by Clean Water Ohio

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Does Your Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs? Here's Why—and How to Fix It in Ohio

If you've turned on a faucet and noticed a rotten egg smell coming from your water, you're not alone—this is a common issue for homeowners throughout Central Ohio and surrounding areas. That sulfur-like odor is more than unpleasant. It can be a sign of deeper water quality issues that shouldn't be ignored.

At Clean Water Ohio, we specialize in diagnosing and fixing odor problems using AO Smith’s advanced water treatment solutions. Here’s what you need to know if your water smells like sulfur—and how we can help.

What Causes the Rotten Egg Smell in Water?

The most common cause of that telltale rotten egg odor is hydrogen sulfide gas. This naturally occurring gas can enter your water supply in a few ways:

1. Well Water Contamination

In many rural parts of Ohio, especially areas outside Columbus, Marysville, or Delaware, homes rely on private wells. Hydrogen sulfide forms naturally in groundwater when organic material decays. It often appears in areas with high iron or sulfur content underground.

2. Bacteria in the Water Heater

Even if your water comes from a municipal source, the rotten egg smell might come from sulfate-reducing bacteria inside your water heater. These bacteria feed on sulfur and can thrive in warm environments—especially in tanks that aren’t regularly flushed or maintained.

3. Corroding Magnesium Anode Rod

Standard water heaters often contain a magnesium anode rod, which can react with naturally occurring sulfates in the water. This chemical reaction releases hydrogen sulfide gas, causing the smell every time you run hot water.

Is It Safe to Use Water That Smells Like Rotten Eggs?

In most cases, hydrogen sulfide in water isn’t dangerous to drink, but it’s certainly unpleasant. However, its presence can indicate:

Bacterial activity in your plumbing
Iron or sulfur contamination
Corrosive water conditions that may damage pipes or appliances

Plus, the smell alone is enough to make most people avoid drinking or cooking with it.

AO Smith Water Treatment: The Long-Term Fix

At Clean Water Ohio, we use AO Smith’s professional-grade filtration and water treatment systems to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and other odor-causing contaminants—without harsh chemicals or constant maintenance.

Whole-Home Filtration Systems

AO Smith's sulfur filters and backwashing systems remove hydrogen sulfide at the point of entry. These systems are ideal for well water and ensure clean, odor-free water at every tap.

Customized Water Conditioning Solutions

We offer free in-home water testing to determine the exact cause of your odor issue. Depending on your results, we may recommend a combination of:

A carbon filtration unit
A chlorination and filtration system
A custom AO Smith softener with odor-reducing media

Areas We Commonly Serve in Ohio

If you’re noticing rotten egg smells in your water in Bellefontaine, Kenton, Marysville, Delaware, Columbus, or Lake View, you’re in our service area. Our team has helped hundreds of Ohio homeowners reclaim fresh, clean-smelling water with solutions that last.

Schedule Your Free Water Test Today

Don’t live with foul-smelling water. Schedule your free water analysis with Clean Water Ohio today. We’ll help you find the source of the problem and provide reliable AO Smith filtration systems tailored to your home.

Contact us now to book your free test and take the first step toward odor-free water.