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    rxn1770's Avatar
    rxn1770 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Nov 11, 2006, 07:29 PM
    Burning plastic smell when water is running - please help
    Hello,

    I posted a question earlier about smell from hot water, well it is in the cold water too and it definitely is NOT a sulfur/rotten eggs smell. The smell is a distictive burnt plastic smell and now is with hot and cold water.

    Please help! Thanks in advance,
    Rachel
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #2

    Nov 11, 2006, 08:07 PM
    If your water is supplied by a pump, I would check its wiring. What sort of a smell? Overloaded wiring will produce a sharp, acid smell from the chlorine in the vinyl insulation. Or do you mean the more common smell from burning a styrofoam cup? The burned hair like smell of burning nylon?
    rxn1770's Avatar
    rxn1770 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Nov 11, 2006, 10:00 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by rxn1770
    Hello,

    I posted a question earlier about smell from hot water, well it is in the cold water too and it definitely is NOT a sulfur/rotten eggs smell. The smell is a distictive burnt plastic smell and now is with hot and cold water.

    Please help! Thanks in advance,
    Rachel
    The smell is definitely chemical/plastic in nature. I do not have a water pump.
    bharr07's Avatar
    bharr07 Posts: 22, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Nov 12, 2006, 12:05 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by rxn1770
    Hello,

    I posted a question earlier about smell from hot water, well it is in the cold water too and it definitely is NOT a sulfur/rotten eggs smell. The smell is a distictive burnt plastic smell and now is with hot and cold water.

    Please help! Thanks in advance,
    Rachel
    Rachel are you getting your hot water from a storage tank , run your hot water and fill a clear glass container about a half gallon , see if thres a plastic type debri floating around and a more than normal white of light blue color to the water , if your getting your hot water from an indirect storage tank off an oil fired hot water boiler , its possible the dip tube melted , and you now have a plastic film and particles contaminating your entire domestic water supply, let me know what the water looks like , run your water in full hot , fill the clear glass vessal and let me know what you find ,
    DanielleWarth's Avatar
    DanielleWarth Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Dec 13, 2012, 01:12 PM
    Please tell me that you found out the cause!
    I have searched all over and you are the only other person that I have found with the same problem as me.
    My water is clear but smells distinctly of burning plastic. It's absolutely unbearable.
    We just drilled a new well (1000 ft) and put in a new pressure tank. My husband thought it might be the pressure tank and that it may go away in time but in the meantime I can't drink the water.
    Any advice?
    boots1413's Avatar
    boots1413 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Mar 5, 2013, 08:19 PM
    Has anybody determined the cause of the burning plastic smell when water is running? I had this problem begin about 2 days ago, and can't find anyone who knows what's going on. It's happening regardless if the hot or cold water is on, and seems to be getting worse. Please let me know if you have a solution!

    Thanks so much!!
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