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#1
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Smelly Water - Help!
Ok, this one has been vexing me, the neighbors and the plumbers and I'm
hoping someone can help. My house was built in 2000 and over the last 4 or 5 months I have noticed an increasingly strong odor when filling the tub or the washing machine or any area where a large amount of the water collects. Now then I'm noticing it when flushing the toilets and even from some of the faucets. The odor is not sulphur, not bleach, not sewer, not earthy smell (I've smelled all of these things in water before). The best I can explain it is that it is a semi-sharp, chemically smell, very distinct, but nothing I've smelled before. I am on city water and I've had three neighbors on either side over to smell it and no one can place it. They haven't had the problem and I've gone to 2 different houses to run water just to verify and there is absolutely no odor. The smell is only there when running the water, both hot and cold. I have run the water into a plastic basin only to eliminate the possibility that it is coming out of the drain when the water runs in. The strange thing is that the smell dissapates after 5 minutes or so; it's as if it is a some type of gas venting out of the pipes. Taking a cup of the water away immediately from the source and the water doesn't smell or taste funny at all and the color is fine. I tried turning off the main valve and opening several faucets, tub, etc. and then turned it back on and let it all run for 15 minutes or so. It then didn't smell (that I could notice) for almost 24 hours. It does seem to be much less when a large amount of water has been run; again, almost as if it's venting some smelly gas from the pipes. Call to the city and they said no one has complained (confirmed by neighbors). Brought out the plumber and he was stumped. He'd never smelled the smell before. He checked the meter and it wasn't running so he didn't think there were any leaks. He called the office and the head guy swore it was the hot water heater. He said mine had an aluminum anode and I should replace with magnesium (which now that I read some posts seems backwards). Anyway, now I have a new hot water heater and the smell was back in a day. I'm waiting to hear back from them and see if he is going to give me 95% of his paycheck he was willing to bet that day (I'm guessing no). I'm at a complete loss here and everyone I talked to, has no idea and it is starting to worry me. Anyone have any idea on this one. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
#2
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Smelly Water - Help!
wrote in message oups.com... Ok, this one has been vexing me, the neighbors and the plumbers and I'm hoping someone can help.............. Hydrogen sulfide smells like "rotten eggs" so if that's not what you're getting, I'm at a loss as well. Best bet is to get the water tested, probably for both minerals and bacteria. From there, you'll know what is wrong. Since you're on city water, I'd call to get them to test it and a few of your neighbors (just so they won't tell you it's your house alone). Cheers, cc |
#4
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Smelly Water - Help!
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#5
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Smelly Water - Help!
On 29 Jun 2006 17:12:47 -0700, "
wrote: Ok, this one has been vexing me, the neighbors and the plumbers and I'm hoping someone can help. Do you a have a Reverse Osmosis system and Water Softener? I once had a "rotten-egg" smell, due to filters needing changing in my RO system. Oren |
#6
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Smelly Water - Help!
"Oren" wrote in message ... On 29 Jun 2006 17:12:47 -0700, " wrote: Ok, this one has been vexing me, the neighbors and the plumbers and I'm hoping someone can help. Do you a have a Reverse Osmosis system and Water Softener? I once had a "rotten-egg" smell, due to filters needing changing in my RO system. Oren IF you get your water from the Lake Michigan, it is prone to strange smells caused by Zebra mussels. IT seems that they have cleaned the water so much that sunlight can now penetrate to the water intake pipes causing Plankton blooms that get sucked in to the drinking water. Nothing toxic, jusyt smelly. IT comes and goes depending on conditions. At least thats the explanation they sent around.... |
#7
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Smelly Water - Help!
thanks for your help on this here's a link to the water smell from
arizona: http://www.cityofmesa.org/utilities/...eport/faqs.asp wrote: Ok, this one has been vexing me, the neighbors and the plumbers and I'm hoping someone can help. My house was built in 2000 and over the last 4 or 5 months I have noticed an increasingly strong odor when filling the tub or the washing machine or any area where a large amount of the water collects. Now then I'm noticing it when flushing the toilets and even from some of the faucets. The odor is not sulphur, not bleach, not sewer, not earthy smell (I've smelled all of these things in water before). The best I can explain it is that it is a semi-sharp, chemically smell, very distinct, but nothing I've smelled before. I am on city water and I've had three neighbors on either side over to smell it and no one can place it. They haven't had the problem and I've gone to 2 different houses to run water just to verify and there is absolutely no odor. The smell is only there when running the water, both hot and cold. I have run the water into a plastic basin only to eliminate the possibility that it is coming out of the drain when the water runs in. The strange thing is that the smell dissapates after 5 minutes or so; it's as if it is a some type of gas venting out of the pipes. Taking a cup of the water away immediately from the source and the water doesn't smell or taste funny at all and the color is fine. I tried turning off the main valve and opening several faucets, tub, etc. and then turned it back on and let it all run for 15 minutes or so. It then didn't smell (that I could notice) for almost 24 hours. It does seem to be much less when a large amount of water has been run; again, almost as if it's venting some smelly gas from the pipes. Call to the city and they said no one has complained (confirmed by neighbors). Brought out the plumber and he was stumped. He'd never smelled the smell before. He checked the meter and it wasn't running so he didn't think there were any leaks. He called the office and the head guy swore it was the hot water heater. He said mine had an aluminum anode and I should replace with magnesium (which now that I read some posts seems backwards). Anyway, now I have a new hot water heater and the smell was back in a day. I'm waiting to hear back from them and see if he is going to give me 95% of his paycheck he was willing to bet that day (I'm guessing no). I'm at a complete loss here and everyone I talked to, has no idea and it is starting to worry me. Anyone have any idea on this one. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
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