Water issue

[Anonymous]

We are in a DC rowhouse for about a year. While I’ve noticed the water seems quite hard (compared to the nearby apt where we lived for years), but odder is that I’ve noticed a smell on the second floor bathrooms. In one, I thought maybe it was stagnant water in both shower and sink. Vinegar seems to help. In the other bathroom, though, it’s almost like a sulfur-y, rotten egg smell when water first comes out. The first floor does not have these issues. I plan on looking into tests but I wonder if anyone has any thoughts. (By the way, we are in a central part of DC and this has been happening for some time so it’s not related to the recent water issues from the overflow.)

[Anonymous]

I think I know lol Do you notice a difference between smells in hot vs cold? Do this and report back results.

Go to a non smelly bathroom and run the cold water for 30 seconds. Do you smell anything? Test from a glass as well as just wafting the air. Now do the same with piping hot water, let it run for a minute or so and fill up a glass. Smell anything?

Do the same thing in the smelly bath. Notice any difference between bathrooms hot and cold? I’m very curious what you find.

[Anonymous]

DC tap is disgusting. Most people that I know that live in DC proper have entire house filtration systems and drink bottled water.

[Anonymous]

Dry trap, blocked rooftop vent, bacteria in drain lines, degraded anode in hot water heater.

[Anonymous]

Op here. It may be a hot water thing.

[Anonymous]

have you flushed your hot water heater and when was the last time you changed the rod?

[Anonymous]

We had this issue only in part of our house that was serviced by a different hot water heater than the rest of our house. It can happen if your hot water heater wasn’t run for a while or if it needs a new rod. Search hot water heater smells like rotten eggs and you’ll find ways to clean it.