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#1
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Smelly Water
Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing
in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. |
#2
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Smelly Water
On 4/7/2013 8:28 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. I always suspect decaying hair for the odor. It comes from the drain and not the water and turning on water just causes the odor to rise. If you are bothered by it, bleach or drain cleaner could lessen it. |
#3
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Smelly Water
On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:28:16 -0400, mcp6453 wrote:
Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. Hot water or cold? Only that bathroom? I see someone suggested in could be the drain. Yes, that is possible as water hits the drain it will send back a burst of air. The other factor is the water heater. If the anode is corroding, you get a nasty sulfur type of odor for a few minutes. If that is the case, replace the anode with a different material. http://www.watertechonline.com/artic...ng-rid-of-odor |
#4
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Smelly Water
On 4/7/2013 9:10 AM, Frank wrote:
On 4/7/2013 8:28 AM, mcp6453 wrote: Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. I always suspect decaying hair for the odor. It comes from the drain and not the water and turning on water just causes the odor to rise. If you are bothered by it, bleach or drain cleaner could lessen it. That's interesting. It never occurred to me that the problem could be the drain. Since the problem only exists in one bathroom, that explanation makes a lot of sense. All I have to do is close the stopper before I turn on the water to see if the problem is the drain. Plus, I'll definitely put some drain cleaner in it. Thanks! |
#5
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Smelly Water
On 4/7/2013 9:57 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:28:16 -0400, mcp6453 wrote: Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. Hot water or cold? Only that bathroom? I see someone suggested in could be the drain. Yes, that is possible as water hits the drain it will send back a burst of air. The other factor is the water heater. If the anode is corroding, you get a nasty sulfur type of odor for a few minutes. If that is the case, replace the anode with a different material. http://www.watertechonline.com/artic...ng-rid-of-odor I'm not sure, Ed. Normally when I turn on the water, I turn on hot and cold equally. The water heater is a 40 gallon low boy electric. Since it's over 10 years old, I've been considering replacing it anyway. |
#6
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Smelly Water
On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:18:19 -0400, mcp6453 wrote:
On 4/7/2013 9:57 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:28:16 -0400, mcp6453 wrote: Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. Hot water or cold? Only that bathroom? I see someone suggested in could be the drain. Yes, that is possible as water hits the drain it will send back a burst of air. The other factor is the water heater. If the anode is corroding, you get a nasty sulfur type of odor for a few minutes. If that is the case, replace the anode with a different material. http://www.watertechonline.com/artic...ng-rid-of-odor I'm not sure, Ed. Normally when I turn on the water, I turn on hot and cold equally. The water heater is a 40 gallon low boy electric. Since it's over 10 years old, I've been considering replacing it anyway. Tomorrow only turn on the hot or the cold. NOT both at the same time. That's how you trouble shoot things. Process of elimination...... Assuming that bathroom has a toilet, could the fill valve be siphoning water back into the system? One way to check for that is to shut off the supply valve under the toilet as soon as you flush the toilet. Leave it shut off all the time except when you flush. Then see if you still got stinky water. Again, process of elimination ..... |
#7
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Smelly Water
A logical diagnostic is to pour some water into a container, carry it into
another room. See if that stinks. Come back, pour the water into the drain, see if that causes the stink to start. Is the stink in the sink, I think? Is it pink, the stink, you fink? Would it stink at a rink, a skate, your fate, you blink? I would prefer that the pink sink would stink at a rink full of mink. And was the sink that stinks pink, at the rink made in PRC by a chink who blink? .. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. "Frank" wrote in message ... I always suspect decaying hair for the odor. It comes from the drain and not the water and turning on water just causes the odor to rise. If you are bothered by it, bleach or drain cleaner could lessen it. |
#8
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Smelly Water
Please let us know what you find.
.. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. "mcp6453" wrote in message ... That's interesting. It never occurred to me that the problem could be the drain. Since the problem only exists in one bathroom, that explanation makes a lot of sense. All I have to do is close the stopper before I turn on the water to see if the problem is the drain. Plus, I'll definitely put some drain cleaner in it. Thanks! |
#9
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Smelly Water
Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:28:16 -0400, mcp6453 wrote: Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. Hot water or cold? Only that bathroom? I see someone suggested in could be the drain. Yes, that is possible as water hits the drain it will send back a burst of air. The other factor is the water heater. If the anode is corroding, you get a nasty sulfur type of odor for a few minutes. If that is the case, replace the anode with a different material. http://www.watertechonline.com/artic...ng-rid-of-odor That would only happen if water temp was set too low, in the bacteria thrive zone. Greg |
#10
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Smelly Water
On 4/7/2013 3:08 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
A logical diagnostic is to pour some water into a container, carry it into another room. See if that stinks. Come back, pour the water into the drain, see if that causes the stink to start. Is the stink in the sink, I think? Is it pink, the stink, you fink? Would it stink at a rink, a skate, your fate, you blink? I would prefer that the pink sink would stink at a rink full of mink. And was the sink that stinks pink, at the rink made in PRC by a chink who blink? . When my brother attended a seminary, one of the students in chemistry class took a mason jar filled with very cold water and dissolved as much hydrogen sulfide gas into the cold water as it would take. The prankster took the sealed jar of water into the cafeteria, unscrewed the lid and set it on a radiator. Needless to say a lot of guys were looking a each other with accusing looks of disgust as the cafeteria quickly emptied out when the stench became unbearable. It was like Superman farted in the place. ^_^ TDD |
#11
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Smelly Water
On 4/8/2013 1:25 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 4/7/2013 3:08 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote: A logical diagnostic is to pour some water into a container, carry it into another room. See if that stinks. Come back, pour the water into the drain, see if that causes the stink to start. Is the stink in the sink, I think? Is it pink, the stink, you fink? Would it stink at a rink, a skate, your fate, you blink? I would prefer that the pink sink would stink at a rink full of mink. And was the sink that stinks pink, at the rink made in PRC by a chink who blink? . When my brother attended a seminary, one of the students in chemistry class took a mason jar filled with very cold water and dissolved as much hydrogen sulfide gas into the cold water as it would take. The prankster took the sealed jar of water into the cafeteria, unscrewed the lid and set it on a radiator. Needless to say a lot of guys were looking a each other with accusing looks of disgust as the cafeteria quickly emptied out when the stench became unbearable. It was like Superman farted in the place. ^_^ TDD Neighbor that owned and operated a small chemical plant nearly died from hydrogen sulfide. He opened up a reactor and got a whiff of H2S and ran outside where he passed out and later came to. He said if he had stayed inside he probably would have died. When I was in grade school every now and then somebody would **** on the radiator in the boy's room emptying the school. |
#12
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Smelly Water
And, H2S is heavier than air. If he'd passed out on the floor, he'd have
been in the thick of it. Glad he was able to bail out, and live to tell about it. .. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. .. "Frank" wrote in message ... Neighbor that owned and operated a small chemical plant nearly died from hydrogen sulfide. He opened up a reactor and got a whiff of H2S and ran outside where he passed out and later came to. He said if he had stayed inside he probably would have died. When I was in grade school every now and then somebody would **** on the radiator in the boy's room emptying the school. |
#13
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Smelly Water
I've run into smelly drains several times at work.
You may think it's the hot water heater putting out that sulfur smell but often it's iron fixing bacteria growing in the drain. Hot water makes the smell worse than cold. Pour in a cup of bleach, let it sit half an hour, flush it out with lots of water. If bleach won't get it sometimes you need bowl cleaner, which is an acid. Do not mix bleach and acid. |
#14
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Smelly Water
On Apr 7, 10:50*pm, gregz wrote:
Ed Pawlowski wrote: On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:28:16 -0400, mcp6453 wrote: Our home water is from our municipality. There are three bathrooms. The plumbing in the house is about 10 years old, and it is all copper. In the upstairs bathroom, two or three times per week, when the bathroom faucet is turned on, the water smells. It's hard to describe the smell, but it's there. It goes away pretty quickly. The problem only started in the last six months or so. I have not observed the problem at any other sink, including ones that are closer to the incoming supply line under the house. The bathroom is used multiple times per day. What could the problem be? Should the water be tested? While we rarely drink from that faucet, we do use the water to wash hands and brush teeth. Hot water or cold? Only that bathroom? *I see someone suggested in could be the drain. Yes, that is possible as water hits the drain it will send back a burst of air. The other factor is the water heater. If the anode is corroding, you get a nasty sulfur type of odor for a few minutes. If that is the case, replace the anode with a different material. http://www.watertechonline.com/artic...s-getting-rid-... That would only happen if water temp was set too low, in the bacteria thrive zone. Greg- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - But the problem is that those odor producing bacteria live at normal water heater temps. You'd have to keep the water heater dangerously hot to prevent it. That's why they sell replacement anodes made of a different metal to stop it. |
#15
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Smelly Water
On Monday, April 8, 2013 9:07:53 AM UTC-4, wrote:
But the problem is that those odor producing bacteria live at normal water heater temps. You'd have to keep the water heater dangerously hot to prevent it. That's why they sell replacement anodes made of a different metal to stop it. Desulfovibrio vulgaris (the sulfate reducing bacteria usually implicated) is fairly heat tolerant. Basically it breathes sulfur (so there must be sulfates in the water, or no H2S will be produced), eats carbon (no organics in the water, no growth), and needs hydrogen for a vitamin (which it can get from iron if there's even a trace in the water, so the anode isn't as important as people think). Shock it with some bleach, that'll take care of it. Wherever it is - and it's not always the water heater. It can live fine in pipes, though it corrodes them badly, and also does okay in the drain, especially if there are iron fixing bacteria like Thiobacillus ferrooxidans or Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in the drain to form a protective slime. |
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