4 Reasons Why Your Home’s Water Smells Bad
People use water every single day in their homes. They need it to brush their teeth, take showers, wash the dishes, clean clothes, and even drink from the faucet.
One maintenance area you must check as a new homeowner is the sewage. Without a sewage inspection, how can you be certain your future home’s water is safe to use?
If you start to notice a strange odor coming from the water, you need to know some potential reasons why. Continue reading to learn more about why your home’s water smells bad.
Deteriorating Metal Pipes
Perhaps the water smells or tastes like metal. If the home uses metal pipes, there’s a strong possibility that the pipes are slowly deteriorating and incorporating metal into the water supply.
Hard water contains various minerals like zinc, calcium, and magnesium. They release scale deposits on the pipes that build up over time. This can cause metal pipes to chip away, leaving metal in the water.
A filtration system can help remove these impurities, making the water safe to drink and safer for the home’s plumbing.
Hot Water Heater Complications
Another common reason why your home’s water smells bad is lingering bacteria in the water heater. When the water heater is at too low of a temperature, it becomes more accessible for bacteria to grow. Set the temperature at around 120 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the hot water supply safe and kill off bacteria.
Sulfur in the Water
An unpleasant rotten egg odor lingers after turning on the shower. Sulfur is usually the culprit behind this.
One cause of a sulfur smell in water is the presence of soil and rocks that emit sulfur decay. This then absorbs into the groundwater supply. Sulfur is only dangerous when you consume it in extremely high amounts or if you’re allergic to it. However, it can negatively impact the plumbing in the house.
Contaminated Water Supply
If you ever notice the water smells like gasoline, stop using it immediately. There’s a possibility it’s due to a contaminated water supply. Some of the causes may include landfills or factories nearby impacting the water.
Contact the local health department before using the water again. You want to avoid contaminated water at all costs to keep your family safe. Before making yourself at home, remember to double-check that the water supply is safe for your family to use in your new home.
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