Do you detect a funny smell when you run your taps? Does
your tap water look or taste bad? Does it smell like sewage? Maybe it tastes
bitter or metallic? Here are all the reasons why your tap water might smell
funny and what you can do to fix it.
My tap water smells
like rotten eggs, sulphur or sewage
There’s likely to be bacteria in your water system. The first thing to check is
if the smell is coming from the water itself. So fill a glass with water. Step
away from the sink and smell the glass. If it’s pongy, then you have a problem
with your mains water supply. If you step back over to the sink and the smell
is coming up from your pughole, then your drains are the culprit.
There may be rotting food or soap collecting in your sink
pipes and drain and causing the nasty
whiff. Bacteria will give off a gas that drifts upwards when you turn your tap
on. A decent drain cleaner should sort this out, or you can go the DIY route
and pour some baking soda down your plughole, followed by a dose of white
vinegar in boiling hot water. This will foam up and unclog your pipes. A shot
of bleach and boiling water should also do the job. Plug hole strainers can
prevent a fair amount of waste from getting into your drains in the first place
so they’re a good place to start.
If you notice a nasty niff when you run your hot water, then this might be
hydrogen sulphide. This is a gas that’s released when your water heating
element starts to break down. Time to call a plumber!
My tap water smells
musty, mouldy, earthy or like rotting fish
If this happens during hot weather, then it’s likely to be your local water
treatment plant not operating at optimum level. Water in rivers and reservoirs
can develop an earthiness in the summer months and more algae may grow, so more
treatment is needed to make the water drinkable as normal. Solid organic matter
in your water will cause it to smell bad, but this can be removed by a decent
home purification system.
Stagnant and warm water running through household pipes that
haven’t been used in a while may also give off an earthy aroma, so your
plumbing might need a good old flushing.
My tap water tastes
metallic or rubbery
Old rusting pipes are the likeliest culprit of metallic
tasting water, particularly if there’s also a red, orange or yellow tint to
your tap water. Corroding iron, zinc or copper pipes will need to be sorted by
a plumber. Copper corrosion will give your water a blue or green tint and is a
definite sign that your pipework needs looking at.
If your tap water has a hint of rubber or plastic then it’s
also likely to be your plastic pipes or anything plastic attached to taps or in
your kettle. All of these invasive elements, including pesky microplastics that
can sneak into your supply, can be removed from your tap water by a good
quality water filtration system.
My tap water has a
chemical, chlorine smell
Chlorine is used by the water treatment works to disinfect our drinking water.
Some people aren’t put off by the faint whiff or the slightly bitter taste it
can leave you with, but most of us would prefer to not be able to taste or
smell chlorine when we want a nice refreshing glass of water. A home water
purifier will remove the chlorine from your tap water, while simple UV light
treatment keeps the bacteria at bay. The Virgin Pure home water system even
leaves in all the healthy essential minerals we need, such as calcium and
magnesium, so it’s like having great tasting mineral water on tap.
Once you add the Smart Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add the Smart Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add the Smart Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add the Smart Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a Package to your basket, and progress to the last stage of the checkout process, we will then add in your discount. So don't worry if you don't see it before then (such as in the cart).
Once you add a new subscription package to your basket, we will apply the first month free discount, which will be visible in your cart. So don’t worry if you don’t see it right away.
