Common Causes of Smelly Water in Your Home

Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the day is essential. A hydrated body is healthier, and drinking water instead of sugary drinks means fewer calories, less weight gain, and a smaller chance of diabetes or heart disease. Drinking enough water can be a challenge if you turn on your kitchen tap and all you get is smelly water!

Understanding what causes smelly tap water helps you resolve the problem. Here are some of the most common reasons for smelly water, and what to do about them. 

Rotten Egg Smell (Sulfur or Hydrogen Sulfide Gas)

“Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?” At Roto-Rooter, we often hear that question, and the answer is almost always hydrogen sulfide gas. 

Hydrogen sulfide gas occurs when sulfate or sulfur bacteria are present in water. If you have ever lived in a home with smelly well water, you are familiar with the characteristic smell of this gas. Consuming this smelly water won’t usually harm you, but it can damage your plumbing and fixtures over time by producing slime and other bacteria that create clogs. 

The most common sources of hydrogen sulfide are: 

Water Heaters

If you’re experiencing smelly hot water, the culprit may be your water heater. The warm environment inside a water heater is perfect for growing bacteria, and in many water heaters, a magnesium anode can aid in chemical reactions. To determine if your smelly water is coming from your water heater, check your hot and cold water for smells separately. You can address smelly hot water by removing the water heater’s magnesium anode, disinfecting and flushing the water heater, or temporarily turning the water heater up to 160°F to kill all bacteria.

Water Softeners

Another possible source of a sulfur smell in water is your water softener. Only certain fixtures in your home use softened water, so compare the water from fixtures with softened water to those without. If the odor is only present in soft water fixtures, you likely have a bacterial problem in your water softener. Clean, sanitize, and flush your water softener to remove any bacteria that might be present.

Well Water

Smelly well water is often caused by sulfur bacteria in the well or groundwater. Sulfur-rich rocks in the surrounding area can also produce a rotten egg smell. Testing the well water will help identify the specific cause. Some people find aerating well water reduces the smell, while others use water filters to remove the gas. A well cleaning can also help by removing bacteria.

Musty or Earthy Odor

Musty, earthy smells are common in water that comes from lakes and reservoirs, especially during the warmer months. Causes of musty or earthy water smells include decaying organic plant matter and algal blooms. You may also experience musty-smelling water if you have hard water, which can cause mineral sedimentation to build up in pipes, or if standing water has sat in pipes for an extended period. Sometimes the smell isn’t even the water; drain traps can produce unpleasant odors that people mistake for smelly tap water. 

Earthy or musty water is generally safe to drink, if a bit unpleasant. Solutions for musty water include: 

• Running the tap for a few minutes before drinking, especially if the tap hasn’t been used in a while.
• Cleaning the faucet with a mild disinfectant in case the smell originates there. 
• Installing a water filtration system.
• Chilling water can reduce the smell.

Sewage or Decay Smell

Hydrogen sulfide gas is often mistaken for sewage smells. Unlike hydrogen sulfide, sewage in drinking water is a serious concern and should be addressed by a professional plumber. Sewage contamination can occur due to leaking sewer lines or septic systems contaminating the water supply. This is less of a concern for people who rely on municipal water, but it can be a serious issue for homes reliant on well water.

Smelly toilet water may result from blockages, vent pipe issues, or damage to the wax seal that connects the toilet to the floor. Regular maintenance and prompt attention to possible problems help prevent smelly toilet water. 

Metallic or Chemical Odor

If tap water has a metallic odor, it probably contains high levels of copper, iron, manganese, or zinc. Groundwater often tastes metallic because it percolates through local rocks and sediment, picking up dissolved metals. A metallic taste is often accompanied by rusty, discolored water. 

Chemical smells from your water often result from chlorine used during water treatment, but it can also result from industrial pollutants. Water that smells of chlorine is typically safe to drink, although you should consider a filtration system to remove the smell and taste. If your water smells of gasoline, solvents, or turpentine, do not drink it and contact a professional plumber or your utility company immediately. 

Tired of smelly water? Call the Roto-Rooter plumbing professionals today!