What Causes Smelly Tap Water and How to Solve It?
Smelly tap water can turn even the freshest space into a place you’d rather avoid. Bad-smelling water immediately ruins the vibe of your home. But don’t worry, there are simple ways to make your tap water smell fresh.
Stinky water is one of those little surprises nobody wants in their home. When you turn on the faucet, you are (always) expecting clean water and instead, you get hit with a smell that makes you take three steps back. Bad-smelling water can make even the most ordinary kitchen or bathroom feel like a chemistry experiment gone wrong, no matter if it smells like rotten eggs, metal, mold, chemicals, or something you can’t even name.
Smelly tap water can make the clean place feel like a chemistry experiment gone wrong. Well, the good news is that you don't need to be stuck with stinky water forever. But before you start boiling water like you're preparing for a plague, relax. Smelly water is usually caused by bacteria, minerals, old pipes or a tired water heater. Fortunately, you can solve it with the right solution.
- Before you jump into solution(s), let’s look at the most asked question…
Does Bad-Smelling Water Affect Your Health?
Bad-smelling water doesn’t always mean danger, but it shouldn’t be ignored. Some odors come from harmless minerals or temporary buildup in pipes, but others may indicate bacteria, sulfur gases or metal corrosion. If the smell is strong or paired with odd water colors, it could affect your skin, your dishes or even your drinking water. Even when the smell itself isn’t harmful, it can still mess with your daily comfort. Showering becomes unpleasant, your laundry may hold weird scents and your cooking water might give your pasta a flavor you won't like.
Common Causes of Smelly Tap Water
- Hydrogen sulfide gas from bacteria causes rotten egg odors.
- High chlorine levels lead to sharp chemical-like water smells.
- Sediment buildup in pipes creates earthy or musty odors.
- Corroded plumbing releases metallic, rusty, penny-like scents.
- Organic matter in wells causes soil-like and swampy smells.
- Water heater bacteria multiply, producing unpleasant aromas.
- Stinky water may not make you sick, but it will make your home feel less fresh and that’s reason enough to fix it.
How to Solve the Smelly Tap Water Issue Quickly
Here's how to get rid of stinky tap water:
1- Fix Sulfur or Rotten Egg Odors
Sulfur smells come from hydrogen sulfide, which is a gas created by bacteria in well water, heaters, or pipes. The smell can be so strong that it makes your faucets feel like they belong in a (science) lab. If the smell appears throughout the whole house, a stronger solution like the Whole House System by NU Aqua is needed. It resists sulfur odors before they enter your faucets, giving your home a clean water reboot.
Prevention Tip: Flush the water heater yearly to keep sulfur-producing bacteria from returning.
2- Eliminate Chemical or Chlorine-Like Smells
If your smelly tap water makes you feel you're washing dishes in a pool, you're definitely dealing with chlorine overuse. Adding chlorine for water safety is normal, but sometimes the levels become too noticeable. A smarter approach helps to treat the water before it reaches any faucet. The NU Aqua Whole House System uses carbon filtration to absorb chlorine smells and chemical tastes.
Prevention Tip: Replace carbon filters on time so chlorine reduction stays effective year-round.
3- Stop Musty, Moldy or Earth-Like Smells
Musty smells are often caused by organic matter sneaking into your water supply, especially in properties with wells. These odors can make cooking water and drinking water feel "earth-flavored". Fortunately, installing a Whole House System helps remove sediment and organic debris before it reaches your kitchen or bathroom. You treat the home’s water in one run rather than tracking down exactly where the smell starts.
Prevention Tip: Clean water tanks and flush plumbing lines regularly to keep organic buildup away.
Smelly tap water might feel like a big problem. However, once you know what's actually causing it, the solution is simple and with NU Aqua, it's affordable. Most odors come from sources like sulfur, chlorine, metals, or sediment. Treating the problem early helps protect your pipes, appliances, and your nose from water-related unpleasantness. Let's conclude it with: your home deserves water that feels good, tastes good, smells good and works well with your appliances.
As the premier partner of the NU Aqua affiliate program, we would like to inform you that by tapping on the referral link, you may save big on your next purchase. We may earn a small commission without extra cost to you.
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