There is no worse experience in summer than having the source of your drinking water smelling rotten and repellant. This issue may occur at your home in Waynesboro, VA, leaving you wondering about the cause of the smell. There are several potential causes of this foul odor emanating from your faucet, and here are some of the most common causes based on the type of smell.
Rotten Eggs (Sulfurous)
The smell of rotten eggs that resembles the smell of sulfur is caused by the gas hydrogen sulfide. This smell occurs due to the presence of naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria in the drain.
The interaction between the bacteria, aluminum and magnesium leads to the production of hydrogen sulfide. The interaction produces the rotten egg smell and can occur in your water heater, well or drain, necessitating plumbing services.
Decayed or Sewage Smell
This smell is characteristic of problems with the water heater, the pipes, or the sink. It occurs due to the deposits of food waste, hair, and soap.
When these compounds and waste materials stay in the pipe for a long time, they generate this awful smell. The presence of bacteria in the pipes and sinks turns the food to waste, causing it to grow and to produce the smell.
Bleach, Medicinal, or Chemical Odor
The cause of this smell is the presence of chlorine used to disinfect the water. Chlorine helps in the killing of bacteria, parasites, and viruses that may be in the water. It is also possible for chlorine to interact with other minerals to create an odor in the water.
Fishy Smell That Is Musty
A musty smell occurs in your faucets when algae flourish in the source of your water supply. The smell of the algae is always present even though the filtration removes the algae.
The smell may also result from the accumulation of bacteria in the pipes and sinks. The fishy smell, on the other hand, may result from blooms of algae or the presence of chloramine, cadmium, and barium.
When you detect the foul smell apart from chlorine, especially if you are from the east, you must contact us today for plumbing services. Get in touch with us at Valley Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for excellent plumbing services, air conditioning, and maintenance of HVAC, among other services.
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