There are few things that can make water more unappetizing than a foul smell, especially the smell of sewage or rotten eggs. There are a variety of reasons why you might have foul smells coming from your faucet—it could be an issue with your hot water heater, with gases in your drain caused by food waste or some other issue entirely. But no matter the reason, when your water smells bad in Modesto, CA, it’s important that you resolve the issue as soon as possible to avoid unsanitary water conditions.
Common causes
In some cases, the water itself might not actually be contaminated—it could simply be that you have gunk sitting in your drain that needs to be flushed out. The bacteria that forms when you have food, soap and other materials sitting in the drain can cause a heavy gas that will encompass the drain and the area around the sink. When the water comes on, the gas gets forced upward into the air, which could make it seem like the water itself is what’s producing the smell, even though that’s not actually the case. In this circumstance, you can resolve the issue simply by cleaning out the drain.
You can determine if the water is or is not the issue by filling up a cup of water, walking away from the faucet and then smelling the water. If the water does not smell, then the problem is likely with the drain, which should lead you to disinfect the sink, drain and pipes with some soap and a small brush.
The smell might only occur if you’re using hot water. If this is the case, then your problem is most likely in the hot water heater. When bacteria forms inside the system, it can produce some foul smells. This is most likely to happen if the temperature in the water heater is too low, or if you turn it off for long periods of time, such as when you leave for a vacation. The bacteria in the hot water heater should not be harmful, but it will likely make the water smell, and you’ll need to eliminate that bacteria to make the odor go away.
If you know the hot water heater is the issue, you should turn up the temperature for at least 24 hours, and run hot water taps to flush the pipes. Just make sure you’re very careful when increasing the temperature of the water so you don’t burn yourself.
Finally, hydrogen sulfide can also cause a smell of sewage. This gas can be toxic, but it will almost always be detected before it reaches toxic levels.
Hydrogen sulfide is most likely to be an issue if you get your water from a well. You might need to have representatives from a water testing lab come out to your property and check your water source for contaminants.
For more information about what to do when your water smells bad in Modesto, CA, we encourage you to contact the team at Alvarado Pumping Septic Service today.