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Smelly Water - Help! dockenheimerelroy@yahoo.com 06-29-2006
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Posted by dockenheimerelroy@yahoo.com on June 29, 2006, 8:12 pm
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.


Posted by PipeDown on June 29, 2006, 9:05 pm
Given the short lived nature of the smell after running the water, you can
bet it is a dissolved gas. as such it might not show up in a simple test
unless you tightly package the sample and indicate to the lab that is what
you are looking for.

Try collecting the water into a closed plastic bag and let it sit then smell
the air in the bag, if it seems stronger, it supports the gas theory.

It could have been methane caused by bacteria in the hot water tank but you
just changed it so I am perplexed too. I suppose it could innoculate the
new tank but so quickly??? Do you have other storage components in your
system like an expansion tank or softner?

In any case, it dosen't sound harmful.


> 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.
>



Posted by James \"Cubby\" Culbertson on June 29, 2006, 10:06 pm

> 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



Posted by buffalobill on June 29, 2006, 10:22 pm
1. what happens when you smell the city water at the neighbor's houses?
2. have the water tested by county health dept or a private water
testing laboratory. for which there may be a fee or not?
3. take a gallon of it over to the swimming pool store where they test
pool water for free and see if they come up with anything odd?
4. ask the local university to have their chem lab class come over for
a field trip?
5. see also:
http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pages/WHRpages/English/Troubleshooting/stinky-water-in-hot-water-heaters.html

dockenheimerelroy@yahoo.com 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.


Posted by dockenheimerelroy@yahoo.com on June 30, 2006, 4:55 pm

buffalobill wrote:
> 1. what happens when you smell the city water at the neighbor's houses?
> 2. have the water tested by county health dept or a private water
> testing laboratory. for which there may be a fee or not?

Ok, I called the health department to see about water testing as you
suggested (thank you) and explained the situation and the first thing
the lady asks me is if I have had new carpet installed recently. I was
wondering what that had to do with anything, but I did have new carpet
installed about 4 months ago after my washing machine dropped a hose
and flooded my house.

She went on to explain that they have had many calls and they have
tracked it down to chlorine dioxide in the water reacting with vapors
from new carpet resulting in a "cat pee", "kerosene" or "ammonium"
smell and it only happens when you run the water. I talked to one of
the other people there and he gave me two written studies on the
subject. They told me to try and vent the house best I could to
eliminate the carpet and that is all they are telling people.

I haven't smelled much cat pee in my life, but this was the closest
thing I have heard to my problem so I went home at lunch and opened all
the windows and doors for 15 minutes. Then closed them all back up
again and let sit for 5 minutes, then ran the water in the tub where
the problem is unmistakable and there was no odor at all. I ran the
washing machine too and it also didn't have the problem.

Now that I look, there are several postings (see the one below). I'm
going to expirement some more, but this might be the problem. Thanks
for all the replies, I'll post back if this takes care of the problem.


>>>>>>When a water tap is opened, small amounts of chlorine dioxide diffuse into
the air and combine with existing household odors. All homes have volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air produced by scented products (soaps,
candles, air fresheners, incense, potpourri), cleaning agents or solvents,
paint, carpet, furnishings, fresh flowers or wreaths, and many other common
household items. The VOC/chlorine dioxide combination odors have been described
as smelling like fuel oil, kerosene, chemicals, or cat urine, to name the most
common. Studies have not identified any health concerns associated with this
combined odor.

The strongest odors are associated with installing new carpet,
upholstered furniture or draperies, and interior painting. The odor
will continue until the level of VOCs decreases (new smell goes away).
This can take from a few weeks to several months to dissipate,
depending on the situation, type of materials, amount of ventilation,
etc. In enclosed areas with little ventilation, such as laundry rooms,
basements, bathrooms, and closets, these compounds will accumulate, so
the odor will tend to be stronger or last longer than in well
ventilated areas. Increasing ventilation by opening windows and
turning on fans will help to eliminate the odors more quickly.


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