Question:
Every now and then we can smell something like rotten eggs in our building. We have been told it is from scraps of food (ie., 1 or 2 grains of corn, rice grains,etc.) that goes down the drain pipe in our small renovated kitchen. I can’t believe that these small grains (no food constantly goes down the drain, just maybe a few small morsels every now and again), but I really can’t believe their conclusion that these bits make this enormous bad smell. Can it be true?
Answer:
It is probably from bacteria growing in your hot water heater…You need to get a bucket and run some water from the water heater into the bucket. Place the bucket under the draincock on the bottom of the heater. Open it carefully and slowly, filling the bucket about 1/4 to 1/3…Is the water discolored and does it smell. If yes, you need to shut off the heater, drain the water with a hose keeping in mind the ground where you drain it is going to smell for a while. Pour a quart of bleach in the water heater cold inlet with a funnel. Reconnect the water line and fill the heater. When it is full, open the hot water faucet on the farthest fixture from the heater. Let the water run until you smell bleach. Now open the cold side and let it run for about 10 seconds. Repeat this with all the faucets and tub/shower.
If the water does not smell from the heater, check all the p-traps in your home and make sure they are correctly installed and level. Also check for floor drains that may have dried out, (water evaporated). A dry drain will let sewer gas into the house. You may have to have your drain lines Hydrojetted to properly clean them.