Stinky water from the faucet

water

How to deal with malodorous water coming from the tap. (Photo Credits)

Foul smelling water coming from the tap can be nasty. It can even be stressful or alarming especially since it may denote impurities in the water, which may cause illnesses or skin damage.

Inspectapedia.com shared the different types of foul odors that homeowners may encounter in their tap water. Plumbing Association of San Diego  

Some odors are a little more insidious and require a bit of background knowledge to deal with them effectively. If your source water runs through an area where naturally occurring sulfur is present, some sulfur may dissolve into the water. We provide a diagnostic procedure to track down the source of sulphur smells in water just below. Some of this dissolved sulfur turns to the gas, hydrogen sulfide, and this can give the water a rotten egg type smelly odor. Sulphur odors can also be caused by a failing hot water heater component, or by certain bacteria in the building plumbing system.”

(Related Post: Plumber’s Advice on Water Efficiency in the Bathroom)

The continuation of this article can be found here.

Types of foul water odor

The University of Georgia Extension also came up with a comprehensive guide on dealing with foul-smelling tap water, what causes it and how can homeowners get rid of this problem. A/C and HVAC

“Although these odors are harmless, the human senses of taste and smell are extremely sensitive even at a very low level. These kinds of odors may be due to: (1) Decaying organic matter in the drain. (2)  Pollution of well water from surface drainage. The presence of bacteria is very common in both cases. By far, the most common cause of this type of problem is the decaying organic matter deposited over time in the drain. To make sure the problem is not in the well, fill a glass with tap water, then step away from the sink and swirl the water around inside the glass few times. If the problem is in the drain, the tap water in the glass should not have an odor. Disinfecting, cleaning and flushing the drain should eliminate the odor.”

(Related Post: What to do with a humming HVAC)

The comprehensive guide can be downloaded here.

Related Plumbing and HVAC Repair and Installation Services

Water Logic for its part educated its readers on how to find out whether the stench is coming from the pipes or from the water itself.

“To determine if the bad smell is coming from your pipes or from your water, fill a glass of water and walk it away from the faucet before smelling it. If it does not smell, the culprit is likely the pipes and drain. If there is bacteria inside your drain, you’ll need to disinfect the sink and pipes using a small amount of soap and a small brush to clean the pipes right inside your drain. If your hot water heater is the issue, you can try turning your hot water heater temperature up for up to 24 hours and running the hot water taps to flush the pipes out. Remember to be vary careful and proceed with caution if you decide to turn up the temperature of the hot water heater.”

The original post can be found here.

If unsure as to how to deal with foul-smelling tap water, a homeowner can always call a qualified and licensed plumbing contractor who can conduct a check, and troubleshoot the issue.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117
(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Plumbing Repair San Diego