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The tap water in your home should be odorless and safe to drink. If you have noticed strange odors when you turn a faucet on or an unusual taste when you drink water in your home, you’ll probably want to get to the root of the problem as soon as possible. Not all off-tastes and odors in faucet water are signs of a serious issue, and some can be rectified by simply replacing a faucet water filter or swapping out an inexpensive water heater part. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of strange water tastes and smells, and what can be done to deal with them.
Run Some Basic Diagnostic Tests
The first thing you should do is determine whether the unusual taste or smell is being caused by your home’s plumbing system, a faucet, a waste disposal unit, or your municipal water supply. If you only notice the odor or taste in water from a single faucet, a dirty drain trap, deteriorating plastic or rubber faucet components, or bacteria building up in a device that adds air to water to reduce usage and prevent splashing is likely responsible.
If only your hot water tastes or smells strange, your water heater is almost certainly the cause of the problem. If the water from all of your hot and cold faucets is affected, corroded water pipes or an issue with your municipal water supply is probably to blame.
Rotten Egg Smells
Sulfuric odors are usually caused by bacteria releasing sulfide gas. If only your hot water smells like rotten eggs, your water heater’s anode rod may have to be replaced. Anode rods attract corrosive elements and minerals to protect water heater tanks. They wear out eventually and should be replaced every three to five years.
Bacteria in a garbage disposal or sink drain can cause rotten egg smells, and this is likely what is happening if you only notice the problem in a single faucet. If all of your water has a smell, bacteria may be thriving in your home’s plumbing system.
Metallic Tastes
Faucet water can develop a metallic taste when galvanized pipes begin to corrode. When this happens, zinc is released into a home’s water supply. Rusting pipes can also release trace amounts of iron, nickel, and copper into household water. Replacing corroding pipes will take care of the problem, but that can be expensive. If the corrosion is not severe, installing a water filtration system would be a more affordable option.
Foul tastes and odors are always inconvenient and may be unsafe. Knowing what’s behind the problem can help you decide if and when to call a plumber. If you have concerns or require water treatment services, contact Marvelous Plumbing in Medicine Hat, AB.