5 Things To Do When Your Water Is Smelling Bad

Detecting decayed odor in your household water is a problem you need to fix as soon as possible. In most cases, the smell is a sign of bacterial activity. That can be a problem, especially if you drink tap water or use it for cooking. Foul-smelling water in the bathroom is not something to be happy about either. The smell can stay in the bathroom even after you finish showering. Bacteria that grow inside your water tanks or pipes can harm your health. In most cases, it can happen when you start using your water heater again after a long time. However, other reasons contribute to this problem too.

Detect the problem

If only your hot water smells bad, it's a sign that there are bacteria in your water heater. Bacteria in sewage can also make the water seem polluted. In these cases, the water itself is not contaminated. Bacteria that piles up in the drain produces gas that can stay there for a while. Running water can cause that gas to go up, making you believe your water smells bad. That is usually not a threat, but it's advisable to find a solution to this problem, too.

The presence of hydrogen sulfide is another factor that causes foul smell in the water. The presence of this gas is toxic, and you'll need to report it as soon as you detect it.

Run the tests

You can't tell for sure why your water smells bad until you consult a professional. You can speculate the potential causes, but that's not going to resolve your issues. Bacteria can cause your water to smell like rotten eggs. If that's the case, it's advisable to run tests and refrain from using that water until you get the results. In most cases, your health will not be endangered.

Prepare for the disinfection

To get rid of the bacteria, you need to prepare your water heater for the cleansing. Set the temperature setting too high for 3 hours. Ensure no one is using the water. Once the water in your boiler is hot enough, you can proceed to the next step. You will have to flush out all the water from the heater. However, if the smell stays after the procedure, the chlorination of the hot water system will be inevitable.

Disinfect your water heater

There are various ways to deal with these problems. Of there are bacteria in your water heater, you need to flush the pipes out. Turn all faucets in your household fully open. If you have a water supply in your yard, it's advisable to open that faucet too.

Let the water run for at least ten minutes. Although your water bill will be higher at the end of the month, you will flush out most of the bacteria out of your water heater. If there are bacteria still living in your pipes, fast and effective hot water repairs will solve your problems.

Prevent this from happening in the future

Dealing with faulty-smelling water is not comfortable. To avoid these problems, you need to check up your pipes and water heater at least twice a year.

Call a plumber if these problems are persistent. Stop drinking tap water if you suspect that there might be harmful bacteria in the pipes. Let the hot water run to clean the drainage systems and remove grease and minerals from the pipes.

Conclusion:

If your tap water smells like sewage, you need to react as soon as possible. Although in most cases, you will be alright if you drink this water, it's advisable to try to avoid it. Buying water from the market can be a temporary solution. Once you fix the problem, you can return to your old habits.

Ayla Anderson is an avid reader and an enthusiastic blogger who writes articles on home improvement, business, Family and beauty. She also spends much of her time giving advice to newly small businesses on how to grow their businesses.