Houston Water Co.Houston WaterWhole-home systems

Sulfur or rotten-egg smell

A rotten-egg smell usually comes from hydrogen sulfide, either in the well water itself or created inside the water heater.

Signs you may have it

  • Rotten-egg smell from the tap
  • Smell only from hot water
  • Black stains on fixtures

A quick clue you can check

If the smell is only in hot water, the water heater is the likely source and the fix may be there, not a filter. If it's in hot and cold water, it's usually in the incoming water.

How it's fixed

Sulfur in well water needs its own treatment stage, chosen from a test of your water. We design it with the rest of your well system.

Common questions

Will a carbon filter fix it?

Sometimes for light odor, but stronger sulfur usually needs a dedicated stage. The test tells us which.

More questions

Not sure what you need? The water test is free.

We test your water at the tap, check your plumbing and tell you what fits, with no obligation to buy.

Results depend on your water, household use and maintenance. Any performance or certification claim applies only to the specific model in your written quote. Field water tests help choose equipment; they don't show whether water is safe to drink.