Why Does My Water Smell Off?

When using water in your own home, the expectation is for fresh, clean water to flow out from your pipes. However, if you are met with weird smells, that isn’t normal and indicates a problem which needs to be addressed. There could be a range of sources that are causing your water or pipes to have a pungent odor. Our team at Terry’s Plumbing would like to share some common smells homeowners notice from their water and what each one could mean.

Chemical Water Smell

If your water smells like bleach, chemicals, or has a medicinal odor, you’re likely smelling chlorine. This is because small amounts of chlorine or chloramine are used by water suppliers to treat water and prevent bacterial growth.

The smell should go away after the water is exposed to air for a few minutes, so sometimes you don’t need to do anything. In some cases, chlorine can interact with built-up or organic materials in the plumbing system and cause an odor. If the smell doesn’t go away after running the tap for a few minutes, consider calling a professional to take a look.

Water Has A Rotten Egg Or Sewer Smell

Humans are incredibly sensitive to these smells, making them disruptive even at small levels. Often these odors come from organic matter such as decaying leaves or bacteria in either the drain or water source. To find the source, you must test your water.

Bacteria in your water heater: If your hot water smells but cold water doesn’t, it’s likely that bacteria is growing in your water heater. This can happen if the water isn’t being used, the heater has been turned off for a long time, or the thermostat isn’t set high enough. The bacteria, while unpleasant to smell and taste, is generally not a threat to your health.
Bacteria in your well: If you have ruled out the other sources, there may be bacteria in your well. If that is the case, you shouldn’t use the water until a professional has shock chlorinated the system.

Gasoline Water Smell

It’s rare for water to smell like fuel or gasoline, and if it does, this indicates a very serious problem. This type of odor is caused by water supply contamination from:

Leaking underground fuel tanks
Discharge from factories and landfills
Agricultural run-off

If your water smells like gasoline, stop using it immediately and call your county health department to report the problem.

Professional Plumbing Services

If you have smelly water and want a professional plumber to fix it, contact Super Terry for all your plumbing needs! Our professionals in Pittsburgh can help you get the clean water your home needs. Good water quality is essential to maintaining your home and its everyday functions, so don’t wait! Contact us today!