How to fix sulphur smell from single hot tap

[OliSmi]

We have a really awful smell coming from a single hot tap in our house. All the other taps hot and cold are fine. It's just this one tap that has the really bad rotten egg sulphur smell.

It empties into a hopper rather than the drain so I really don't think it's the drains. Research suggests it's normally caused by some sort of bacteria in the boiler. However all the other hot taps don't smell so I am wondering if I have somehow managed to get the bacteria in just this one tap.

Mainly though. How on earth do I fix it?

 

[SimonG]

Plenty of bleach down the drain?

 

[Deleted member 120897]

Are you able to fill a receptacle and try to find out if the smell still persists?

 

[Chuck]

However all the other hot taps don't smell so I am wondering if I have somehow managed to get the bacteria in just this one tap.

Check for a dead-leg in the pipework that serves the tap and, if it exists, get it removed.

Otherwise, if the tap is used infrequently and/or the water temperature is a bit low due to a mis-set thermostat or a long run of poorly insulated pipe, etc...

If it's biological contamination, which seems fairly likely, the system really does need to be checked for dead legs, correct temperature, etc. and then upgraded (if necessary) flushed with biocide treatment.

 

[OliSmi]

Plenty of bleach down the drain?

This doesn't appear to be a drain issue. Its had every conceivable cleaner put down

 

[OliSmi]

Check for a dead-leg in the pipework that serves the tap and, if it exists, get it removed.

Otherwise, if the tap is used infrequently and/or the water temperature is a bit low due to a mis-set thermostat or a long run of poorly insulated pipe, etc...

If it's biological contamination, which seems fairly likely, the system really does need to be checked for dead legs, correct temperature, etc. and then upgraded (if necessary) flushed

 

[OliSmi]

The pipework runs under a solid wood floor that I am reluctant to lift.

Pipework isn't a long run as it's directly on the floor above the boiler all inside the property. So I am reasonably confident this part isn't a problem

Given my inability to check the pipework. Would a biocide flush be a complete waste of time?

 

[SimonG]

Take the guts out the hot tap and flush it through. Maybe something stuck in there.

 

[Chuck]

Given my inability to check the pipework. Would a biocide flush be a complete waste of time?

Unless the property has been altered a lot there's not likely to be a dead leg on a short direct run so just cross your fingers. If something nasty is growing in that that section it needs flushing and cleaning independent of the external visual inspection.