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Why Does My Water Smell?

A homeowner in a blue shirt holding a thumbs down next to a glass of water to indicate a bad smell from her kitchen faucet in Springfield, MO.

Whether your water line has been compromised or your water heater is the culprit behind the foul odor, the last thing any homeowner wants is undrinkable water. Keep reading to learn why your faucet water smells, what the cause of it may be, and how you can restore your water supply as quickly as possible.

The Root of the Smell

Most of the time, foul-smelling water is caused by an issue relating to your water heater. Often the anaerobic bacteria that sometimes exists in water reacts poorly to sulfur, aluminum, and magnesium sacrificial anodes, all of which are found in the rod that’s screwed into the top of the tank. This produces hydrogen sulfide gas, which is responsible for producing a foul-smelling odor, often compared to rotten eggs. Luckily, this is a quick fix when you call our Air Services plumbers in Springfield, MO.

A Quick DIY Fix

Fortunately, there’s a fast, cheap, easy, and environmentally safe fix when your water heater is stinking. It won’t solve the problem forever, but it can give you relief from the smell until one of our Air Services plumbers can take care of the problem.

First, shut off the cold water valve that is connected to the water heater. Then, you’ll need to turn on the hot water somewhere in your house to relieve some of the pressure in the tank. Next, disconnect the metal hose and pour hydrogen peroxide (available at any drugstore) into the opening, using a funnel to prevent spillage. You should pour in about a cup of peroxide for every 10 gallons of hot water the tank holds; for example, if you have a 50-gallon tank, you should pour in five cups of peroxide. Reconnect the metal hose and turn the cold water valve back on to refill your tank. The hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria responsible for the foul smell, giving you a temporary break from the odor.

Not interested in DIY hacks? Contact our Springfield, MO plumbers right away at (417) 309-6279 for immediate repair service.

 

Hot and cold water valves installed in the basement of a home in Springfield, MO that is experiencing an odd smell coming from their water faucets.

Avoiding Future Drain Smells

Unfortunately, if this has happened once, you’ll likely face the problem again. At Air Services in Springfield, MO, our licensed plumbers have years of experience in working with water heaters, and each has the knowledge necessary to ensure that this never happens again. We can provide a thorough inspection of your water heater to properly diagnose the problem, and we’ll fix the issue so that you can enjoy freshwater without the offensive smell.

Contact Air Services When Your Drains Begin to Smell

Contact us today to learn more about our water heater and water line maintenance and repair services in Springfield, MO. Our plumbers will work to identify the source of your foul-smelling water and restore the issue as quickly as possible.

A woman in a blue and white shirt looking at her glass of water with a confused look due to the off smell of the water from her kitchen faucet in Springfield, MO.

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