Reasons Why Your Water Smells Strange – Water can smell strange for several reasons. The issue can lie in your plumbing, heater, or water supply. While many of these issues aren’t serious, some can cause health problems. That’s why you need to call a reliable plumber for a thorough assessment and repair. At A Clear Choice Plumbing & Heating, we have expert plumbers who can handle all kinds of plumbing or heating issues and offer straightforward advice.
Why Does Your Water Smell Strange?
You can perform a few simple checks to determine just why your water smells weird. Providing this information to plumbers during the call can help speed up repairs. Here are some signs to look out for:
1. Problem Occurs in All Faucets
If the problem happens occurs in all faucets, you may need to look at both the water source and your plumbing system. Consider the points mentioned below:
Smell Goes Away After a Few Minutes – If the smell goes away after a few minutes, the problem lies in your plumbing system. Our team will carefully inspect all plumbing lines to find where it is located.
Smell in Hot Water Doesn’t Go Away – If the smell doesn’t go away and is only present in your hot water, the problem lies with your hot water tank’s magnesium rod.
Smell in Both Hot and Cold Water – If the smell doesn’t go away and is present in hot/cold water, you may have a problem with your plumbing system or water supply. This issue is a little more difficult to isolate so you need an additional inspection from a qualified expert.
Check all faucets in your property to collect more information about the issue. Contact an emergency plumber immediately after this inspection.
2. Odor in Only in Some Faucets
If the odor occurs in just a couple of faucets, you don’t have to worry about water main or sewer system issues. This only happens if there’s a problem in the lines connected to those faucets. You may only need to replace a small section of a pipe, which is a quick and affordable repair.
Our team will still double-check all faucets or fixtures connected to those lines just to ensure everything is clear.
Isolating the location of an issue helps plumbers come up with a good repair plan. A technician may conduct a more invasive assessment of your plumbing system if the problem’s source isn’t easy to determine.
Types of Odors
Different types of odors mean different things, which is why it is important to pay close attention to the type of smell. Here’s a look at different options:
1. Smells Chemical
If the water smells like medicine, chlorine, or bleach, Most water supply companies add chemical agents to ensure your water is safe for drinking. These agents eliminate harmful bacteria and prevent future bacterial growth.
This odor should go away after you let the water run for a few minutes, but be sure to call the supply company if it doesn’t.
2. Rotten Eggs
If your water smells like rotten eggs, there’s a strong presence of sulfur-reducing bacteria in the system. These organisms convert naturally-occurring sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide, which leads to that distinctive odor. Here’s a look at common causes:
Bacteria in Drains – Collect a glass of water from the faucet and move away to smell it. If the water doesn’t smell after stepping away from your sink, the bacteria are in your drains. This only requires flushing a disinfectant down the drain.
Bacteria in Water Heater – Bacteria can grow in hot water tanks if the water remains unused for too long. You can fix this issue by draining the tank and replacing its magnesium rod. This form of bacteria is relatively harmless so you can use it for other purposes.
Bacteria at Source – If all faucets emit odor, the problem may lie with your water supply company. Contact them or get in touch with your local water authority. As experienced plumbers, we can conduct a comprehensive test to see whether there are any harmful pathogens in the water.
Don’t ignore the rotten egg smell, even if it goes away after a while. Call a qualified plumberto check your system and disinfect it if needed.
3. Earthy or Grassy
Musty, moldy, or fishy smells are an indication of decaying matter in the drains. There may also be some bacterial present in the pipelines. A qualified plumber will flush, disinfect, and clean the drain thoroughly to remove all decomposing matter. This water can be harmful to your health so get it fixed immediately.
If musty odors are a recurring problem, you may need to install carbon filters or an automatic chlorinator to disinfect water.
4. Petroleum Odor
Petroleum or gasoline odors are rare, but they can be very dangerous. These are often a result of underground fuel storage tank leaks, discharge from factory landfills, or runoff from farms.
Stop drinking contaminated water immediately and call a plumber for a full inspection. You should also inform the local water authority and ask your neighbors to check as well. Consuming contaminated water can cause cancer, liver, or kidney problems.
Preventive Measures
The best way to avoid water odor issues is to maintain your plumbing system. Hire a reliable plumber for yearly inspection and servicing. Monitor your pipes, sewers, water heaters, and water supply lines carefully for issues. Here are some tips:
Flush drains and sinks with disinfectants regularly. Homemade solutions like baking soda and vinegar work well for this purpose.
Be mindful of what you’re flushing down the drains. Grease and food particles can create a favorable atmosphere for bacteria.
Test your water quality regularly even if it doesn’t emit any odors.
Keep all fixtures clean and disinfect them regularly. This includes faucets, showerheads, and other such components.
If you are facing water or plumbing issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at A Clear Choice Plumbing & Heating at 720 938 1554. We’ll be happy to help.
