A rotten egg odor from the tap is usually sulfur, and it has a few possible sources. Here is how National City homeowners can track it down.
Where the smell comes from
Hydrogen sulfide gas gives water its rotten egg smell. It can come from the water supply, the water heater, or bacteria in the plumbing reacting with the anode rod.
Isolate the source
If the smell is only in hot water, the water heater and its anode rod are the likely cause. If both hot and cold smell, the source is the water itself.
The water heater fix
Replacing the anode rod with a different material, or flushing the heater, often clears a hot-water-only smell. mineral-rich water varies by region, and older neighborhoods still run on aging galvanized or copper lines In National City, this is a common service call.
Treating the supply
For sulfur in the water itself, an oxidizing filter or aeration system removes it. A water test confirms the approach.
Lose the smell
Sulfur smell is fixable once you find the source. Call 888-217-3585 and National City Plumbing Pros will match you with a National City pro who solves it.
Plumbing in National City: what to know
In National City, mineral-rich water varies by region, and older neighborhoods still run on aging galvanized or copper lines. Pros in our network know the local quirks and bring the right parts on the first visit.
Across San Diego County — from Coronado, Chula Vista and Lemon Grove to ZIP codes like 91950, 92136, 92113 — homeowners deal with the same kinds of issues. The tips above apply locally, and when a job goes beyond a quick fix, a vetted local pro is only a call away.
Need a hand in National City?
If a plumbing issue is beyond a quick fix, don't wait for it to get worse. Call 888-217-3585 and National City Plumbing Pros will match you with a vetted local pro — usually within minutes. Learn more about plumbing help in National City.