How Your Plumbing Service Addresses Common Water Odors And Their Causes | Brookhaven, GA
Clean water should be clear and odorless. However, some circumstances make the water discolored and have an uncharacteristic smell. Have you noticed that your water has a sudden smell? You might want to know what your plumbing service provider in Brookhaven, GA, will say about that. In this post, you’ll learn about the common water smells you are likely to experience at your home and what measures you can take to curb them. By knowing the smells and what they mean, you can be in a position to deal with the issue decisively with the help of a plumber. Remember, smells in your water mean it is contaminated and could indicate an underlying plumbing issue.
Sewer Like or Rotten Egg Smell
Typically, these smells in your water are caused by sulfur bacteria that might have found their way into the water lines. This could happen in either of the following ways:
Bacteria Growing in Your Drains
The most common reason for the sewer-like or rotten egg smell is bacterial growth in the drains. As time passes, the organic matter accumulates on the walls of the drains. This acts as a source of food and nutrients that favor bacterial growth. The bacteria then produce the gas, which smells like a sewer or rotten eggs.
If the water line has a crack and is laid near the sewer or drainage system, the bacteria or smell might seep into the water, making it smell like rotten eggs. In this case, the plumbing service provider will reroute your water line to ensure that the germs and other contaminants from the drainage or sewer system don’t find their way into the water line.
Anaerobic Bacteria Growing in Your Water Heater
You might also notice a sewer-like or rotten egg smell because of anaerobic bacteria in your water heater. These bacteria grow in moist, warm, and dark enclosed spaces. In most cases, this may be caused by two main scenarios; if you haven’t used the water heater for a long time or if the water heater’s anode rod is fully deleted. This also might happen if the thermostat is set to too low temperatures.
Although anaerobic bacteria aren’t a health threat, the odor can make the showers unpleasant. When a plumbing service provider comes and rules out bacterial growth in the drains, they will test whether the problem is in cold and hot water or just heated water. The plumbing service provider will know the water heater’s issue if the smell comes from the hot water. The professional will replace the anode rod and advise you to keep the water temperatures in the tank high.
Bacterial Growth in the Water Source
If the plumbing service provider rules out the water heater and the drains, the rotten egg odor might be coming from the water source. Do you use well or pond water? If you notice the smell, have a plumber come over and test it. If bacteria are growing within, you should stop using the water for your good. Then, shock chlorinate your well or pond and pump out all the water until all the chlorine smell disappears. If you have a septic system near your well, have a plumbing service provider relocate it and inform the health department.
Metal-like Smell
Water with a metallic odor comes first. This one you are familiar with. Even if it wasn’t at your house, you’ve undoubtedly already smelled it somewhere. Your water will smell like lead or iron at this point. If you smell anything metallic, it might be one of these substances or something we typically don’t consider or recognize just on smell, like zinc or manganese. But what should you do if your water has a metallic odor? For you, what does it mean?
Metallic-tasting water is undoubtedly hazardous, so you should be sure to understand its source. These minerals are required in very small amounts by your body. However, it shouldn’t be through the water you drink. This means that you should contact a plumbing service provider in Brookhaven, GA, to see if there is anything metallic in your water. They will be able to inform you as to whether it is still safe to use that water at your home or if you need to take additional action, such as installing new pipes.
Bleach, Medicinal, or Chemical Odor
To prevent bacterial growth, most of the PWS (public water suppliers) chlorinate the water. Typically, the levels of free chlorine in drinking water supplied by a PWS should be between 0.2ppm and 2.0ppm. However, the levels might be as high as 5.0ppm. However, the smells from chlorine usually go away if you expose the water to air. Consult your plumbing service provider on the right amount of chlorine disinfectant that should be used in your pond or well.
Moldy Smell
The other smell you might notice from your water is musty or moldy. This isn’t a smell you want to experience and is a definite sign of trouble in your pipes. Mold like growing in damp, but hot spots like those created by a leak. Mold reproduces through spores. Within 48 hours, the spores can spread to great lengths. Because of the health ramification of mold, it isn’t something you want in your home.
Removing it becomes a problem when it spreads throughout our home. Hence, you should regularly maintain the plumbing system to avert leaks that are the primary cause of this issue. The mold growth in your house can cause serious health complications to people with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Additionally, it causes one to sneeze, wheeze, or even cough, meaning that you might incur costly medical expenses. Fortunately, the plumber can use an anti-microbial fogger to ensure that your home is mold-free. They will also patch the leaks to ensure you don’t incur costly water utility bills at the end of the month.
Let Us Help You Deal with the Smelly Water
Is your water throwing a pungent smell? That is most likely because of either of the reasons elucidated above. Although there is no preparation for some of those reasons, a plumber in Brookhaven, GA, can help you stay ready and deal with others like mold. Contact us at Peach Plumbing & Drain today for reliable plumbing services.