How to Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells | Ask This Old House

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey offers remedies to prevent smelly water. (See the shopping list, tools, and steps below.)
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Shopping List for How to Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells:
Aluminum anode rod, used to replace magnesium rod in water heater

Tools for How to Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells:
Wrench, used to remove anode rod from water heater

Steps for How to Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells:
1. If the sulfur smell is present in both the hot water and the cold water, call a licensed well contractor and have him or her treat the problem at the well.
2. If the odor is only in the hot water, replace the water heater’s sacrificial magnesium anode rod with an aluminum rod.
3. Sulfur smells are extremely rare in municipal water systems.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells | Ask This Old House
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