A rotten-egg smell .... Water heaters

Q: Ed, my husband and I love your column and you are the only one left we can turn to. We have had a serious rotten-egg smell in our kitchen on and off for the last five years and our home is fairly new. We know the problem is not in our fixtures since we have recently installed a beautiful sink and faucet. We do not have a garbage disposal and we are careful about what we wash down the drain. Six plumbers have checked out the odor issue over the years, with no answers. My husband thinks that the kitchen-sink plumbing may not have a vent pipe and we may not be able to install one since there are windows in back of the sink. What can we do? Help! -- Jane in Oregon

A: Dear Jane, let's start by saying that the odds are that I don't think you have a venting issue. But for information sake, for the moment let's go that route. If in fact your kitchen-sink plumbing does not have a vent pipe, that may account for the trap water being siphoned out. And once that happens, you can get an open line to your sewer system or septic tank.

To correct this problem, some type of vent needs to be installed. Even if you have finished walls or windows, somehow and someway a good plumber can install a vent line by opening up a passageway to the roof area to install the vent pipe. Also, many areas of the country allow a control called an "auto vent" that can be installed under the sink, and that may solve a venting issue as well.

But, plumbing venting problems usually cause a "sewer waste" smell, not a "rotten egg" smell. Vent pipes or auto vents for plumbing fixtures are usually required by code, and it's not likely that an inspector would overlook an obvious problem like a missing kitchen-sink vent pipe. So, let's get back to what I would like you to check. Have a licensed plumber check your water and water heater. A "rotten egg" smell usually points to a water issue, and many times the anode rods in a water heater can break down and react with your water to produce strange odors. With plumbing you never know, so I'm not saying this will solve all your odor issues. I'm just giving you another place to look so you can hopefully sniff out this problem.

Q: I'm a big fan of your book "House Call," but there is one question I have that you did not address in the book. What is the difference between a tankless water heater and a standard tank-style water heater? -- Maggie in Massachusetts

A: Thanks, Maggie. I'll be glad to give you your own "special edition" chapter that you can add to your book. Standard tank-style water heaters are usually sized in 30-, 40-, 50- and even 75-gallon tanks for standard residential use. A modest power source such as gas, oil or electric will slowly heat the water and store the hot water in the tank until it's used, and then the reheating process starts over again. A tankless water heater does not store a large volume of water. Instead, it relies on powerful gas or oil burners or electric coils to heat the water instantly as it passes through piping or chambers in the unit.

They both have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice will come down to your budget and lifestyle. Remember, this question was about the difference between tankless and standard water heaters. The cost of the units, fuel efficiency and flow rates between the two add up to a whole different story that we have to save for another day.

(Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. For information visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande(at)hgtvpro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com.)