4 Common Water Smells and Solutions
Consider yourself lucky if you have never experienced smelly water. Water is essential to everyday life and a foul odor to our tap water can be alarming. We can help you identify common water smells and offer solutions!
Determine the Source of the Odor
First, you need to try to determine where the water smell is coming from. Does the odor occur in all your faucets or just one? If it’s just one, the odor is being caused by something in the fixture.
Does the odor go away after the water runs for a few minutes? If so, the odor is likely caused by something in your plumbing system, not the water source itself.
Common Water Smells
There are several water smells, and we will look at the most common odors and how to test your water.
- Sewage/Rotten Egg Smell- A rotten egg or sewage smell in your water is likely caused by either bacteria growing in your drain or water heater, or sulfur in your water supply.
Solution- Check your water by filling a glass from your tap and let it sit for a few minutes. If the problem is bacteria in the drain, the water should not have an odor. Disinfect the drain by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour half a cup of vinegar. Wait 15 minutes and then pour in hot tap water. You can also turn up the temperature in your water heater for 24 hours and run frequently through your faucets to kill any bacteria in your plumbing.
- Musty Smell- If your water has a musty, almost moldy smell, it could be from erosion in your water pipes. Erosion can be caused by hard water.
Solution- The best solution is to install a water softener. Water softener systems remove hard minerals like magnesium and calcium that are found in water.
- Bleach Smell- High levels of chlorine in your drinking water is usually not harmful, but nobody wants the water they drink to smell like a swimming pool. Public water suppliers chlorinate water to prevent bacteria growth.
Solution- You may be able to get rid of the chlorine smell by running the water faucet for a few minutes. We also offer a Reverse Osmosis System which eliminates harmful contaminants and provides great tasting (and smelling) drinking water!
- Metal Smell- The most common reason for metallic water smells is older metal pipes slowly deteriorating into your water. Generally, traces of metal are not harmful. But there is a possibility of lead pipes in homes built before 1986.
Solution- You can request a water test from your water treatment center if you suspect lead. Lead is harmful and should be taken care of immediately. If no lead is present, we suggest a Reverse Osmosis water filtration system for great tasting and smelling water.
Say Goodbye to Water Smells and Hello to High Quality Water
Whatever the source of your water smell may be, Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton can help! We can test your water and work with you to determine which of our eco-friendly and innovative drinking water products is right for you.
So, stop worrying about your water and contact us! Whether you’re looking for a Reverse Osmosis system or a water softener, we can guarantee that our products will reduce common water contaminants and improve the quality of your water.
