Same problem and solution. New carpet made water smell funny. Filled a bathtub with water, and the smell started. Doing dishes in the sink, funny smell. I called the water department, and they immediately asked if I had just put in new carpet. Why, yes I had. They said the chemicals in the carpet reacted with the chlorine in the water to make the smell. After a week the smell went away (we opened the windows the help speed up the process).

cyberheater

Volatile organic compounds.

speedball1

That doesn't tell me jack! What chemicals are they using now that they didn't use when I was out in the field? Just gotta be something new. Tom

cyberheater

I know I am thinking the exact same thing, and I am trying to find the equation to it.

I do know that buildings are tighter now - it could also be something that is added to the carpet now too. I am checking....stay tuned. If I find something...I will post it.

speedball1

Please keep us in the loop cyberheater. If this becomes widespread we're gonna get a lotta complaints and it's not gonna be very helpful if we haven't got the facts. Thanks for taking the time to research this. Tom

cyberheater

Found so far. They started to use Chlorine Deoxide several years ago in treating the water because it was supposed to be a safer and more effective in water treatment and apparently the problem started. They found the most problems with homes that had poor air ventilation, or in smaller spaces. As early as 1999 and before that.

The VOC/chlorine dioxide combination odors have been described as smelling like fuel oil, kerosene, chemicals or cat urine, to name the most common.

New carpet issue has some correlation to products used in making it and the reaction of the chlorine dioxide in the water. There are other household products/building materials that will also have an opportunity to react to it, but carpet has two ingredients comonly used and will prodominately gass off when installed.

I am trying to find the best and straight to the point information to provide links. Apparently some people are afraid of giving this info out for worry of more fear?

mygirlsdad77

Very interesting.. Thanks for taking to time cyberheater. Much appreciated. Lee.