We had our kitchen remodeled about 1 yr ago. All plumbing was moved to a different location in the room. In the last few months, the cold water in the sink started to smell and had a bad taste. After you run the faucet for about 5 minutes, the water does not smell, but after you leave it for a while it smells again. Any idea what would cause this? The supply lines are all copper, and were soldered into the original supply lines (where the sink used to be). Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

The first thing I would do is unscrew the aerator and clean the screens in bleach.  Do you have City water or pump system?  Is the kitchen sink the only problem place?   Does it smell moldy or like rotten eggs?  { The supply lines are all copper, and were soldered into the original supply lines }  Soldered into what? Copper? Galvanized?  Don't you have stops located in the cabinet that the supplies come off?  Sounds like you may have bacteria growing in the lines or valve body.  If that's the case you will have to disassemble the faucet and disinfect it with full strength bleach and then flush out the supply lines.  Let me know how you make out.  I'll be watching for your reply.  Good luck, Tom

I will try to clean the aerator, but the Hot side does not smell or tase bad so I'm not sure this will help. The new copper is soldered to the old copper lines, no galvanized pipe that I know of. I have City water.
I just thought of something - in between the "old/new" connection and the faucet is a valve that supplies water to my fridge (which is filtered) - could my faucet be pulling water back out of the fridge supply?

You're right, if it were the aerator both hot and cold would smell. Same thing for the faucet. I was giving you stardard checks for smelly water. My fault for developing a "brain lock". However you might just have put your finger on the culprit. The Ice maker filter. Let me take off on a flight of fancy. Say the filter is loaded with bacteria. When the cold water to the faucet is off there is a open line between the filter and your supply. The smelly stuff migrates into your supply line and gets pulled up into your faucet. Running the water for a few minutes flushes out the bacteria and the smell is gone until you let it set. Then the whole thing starts over again. Shut the water off to the ice maker. Open the faucet and let it run until the smell is gone. Let it set for a while and see if the smell is back or gone. One thing I would do is to pull that filter and snort it. Sorry about the "dumbass" advice I gave you to begin with. Blaime it on advancing age. Cheers, Tom

Great advice - thanks Tom. I didn't even think about the filter until I started thinking about how the system was set up. I'll try this tonight and let you know.

Well, I turned off the valve to the fridge, ran the water and waited. Seems that the smell and bad taste went away. Now, I can clean out the lines and the filter, but do they make some type of valve that will not allow the water to go in reverse? For 1/4" Copper?

This is the first time I've ever been asked for a check valve that small, but yes, they do make them. Just click on or paste up this link on your address bar. But just flushing the line and changing the filter should take care of the matter. If the water smelled that bad think of what your ice cubes were tasting like? Good luck and I was glad I could be of some assistance. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=Check+Valves&Page=1

I have similar issue and am at a loss. A handyman replaced all our sinks in the washrooms. The water tastes bad and it even smells. He soldered chrome looking fitting into the copper supply pipes and then used a flex metallic looking short pipe between the faucet and the chrome looking fitting. Water taste has not changed anywhere except where he did these new instals. Smells almost like soldering flux or PVC and bitter taste. Thinking that may the solder flux may not have flushed on the cold side I switched the connection as the smell and taste does not come from hot water side alone. Dose not appear to help and advice please.

Regards.

What you are tasting is No-Corrode Soldering paste.  This soldering paste has a acid base and should flush itself out of your lines with use.  Have you let the cold water run for awhile? I would, however, take the areators off the faucet spouts, clean the screens and let them soak in bleach for a hour.  If the acid got in your screens flushing the line clear won't help.  The taste will remain in the sceens long after it leaves the line.  Good luck and let me know how you make out.   Cheers,  Tom

Riffraf,

''Well, I turned off the valve to the fridge, ran the water and waited. Seems that the smell and bad taste went away. Now, I can clean out the lines and the filter, but do they make some type of valve that will not allow the water to go in reverse? For 1/4" Copper?''

If the local hardware and home centers don't have the 1/4'' valve. Try an autoparts store. NAPA has a great stock of that kind of stuff. It is a pain ordering little odds and ends.

Speedball1 thank you for the suggestion. I did the bleach for greater than 1 hour and then even washed the screen inserts in the dishwasher cutlery basket. Same bitter taste and smell. By the way the connection from standard plumbing to the faucet uses Speedi-Plumb Plus 3/8 x 1/2 inch FIP.

But I believe the person did something not right while he put new plumbing connections and Iwas not watching when he did it.

I used the same plumbing connection when I replaced another sink and faucet in one of my other washrooms (without the need for any new soldering), no bad smell or taste.

I am not sure if the solder/flux has really gone into the Polymer flex connecting 20 inch flex hoses or it is in the copper pipe below the connection or it is in the Delta faucet itself.

Very weird and frustrating.

I would call the plumber back and get him back out to change out his work. What did he solder? Brasscraft shows a compression connection on their Speedi-Plus angle stops and raisers. Your discription describes one that screws into a threaded pipe, however they do make a chrome angle stop that solders in. What do you have on the end of the shut off valve? A nut? (compression) a threaded connection or a smooth connection? (solder joint). At any rate I would call him back and make him start replacing parts until the smell went away. Keep me in the loop on this one. You have one of the more interesting problems that I receive. Cheers, Tom

Now the faucet and sink I replaced myself with the Speedi-Plumb Plus is giving same foul smelling and tasting water specially when you don't let the water run and taste on opening the tap.

There was no solder or anything other than connecting to an existing chrome thread outlet on the supply pipe to the American Standard faucet.  

I am 99.999... percent sure that this is because of the supply pipes identifid below,

Faucet 20"
3/8" comp. X 1/2" F.I.P.

SPEEDI-PLUMB PLUS
Engineered Polymer Braid

Patent 5,803,129
B1-20A F

I will have to replace one of these with better quality replacement and see the results.

Any quality product you recommend.

If  this replacement fixes the problem I will say this is a pretty pathetic product and wonder how many others are suffering and if the Smell and taste are even toxic.

Regards.

Iwould replace with a 1/2 X1/4" FIP angle stop and 1/4" chrome over copper supply lines. This valve threads into the nipple coming out of that wall and secures the supply linre with a compression fitting. You will have to cut the supply line to size so you'll need a set of tubing cutters. Sorry you had such a bad time. I hope changing out the supplys takes care of the problem. Regards, Tom

:confused: I installed a line for the ice maker in my freezer by tapping into the cold water line. There was and is no smell or taste in any tap water, but the ice in the freezer had a bad smell and taste. I installed a filter in the line to the ice maker and the bad taste and smell in the ice went away. Why would the ice have a bad smell or taste when the tap doesn't?

:confused: I installed a line for the ice maker in my freezer by tapping into the cold water line. There was and is no smell or taste in any tap water, but the ice in the freezer had a bad smell and taste. I installed a filter in the line to the ice maker and the bad taste and smell in the ice went away. Why would the ice have a bad smell or taste when the tap doesn't?

The only thing between the icemaker tap and the filter you installed is the icemaker line itself. Perhaps a bacteria growth in the line. Some oil or other junk that got in when it was manufactured, who knows? But by elimination that's where the smell and bad taste came from. Regards, Tom

I noticed you mentioned Rotten Eggs Smell. My husband and I purchased our home a little over a year ago. At that time water was tested, etc.

We have not done any home improvements. We do have more family members than the previous people (I think it was one lady. We are 2 adults and 2 small children). In the last few months, I've been having problems with our water pump running non-stop. In addition, our cold water smells fine at first, like rotten eggs after 10sec, then fine again. It tastes OK... although the smell really makes me not want to drink it. Also smell the Rotten egg smell outside when it has rained heavily.

Septic was pumped out 1 1/2-2yrs ago. Maybe needs to be done again? Not really sure what the smell is, although my husband said it was harmless... not so sure when I have to make baby bottles with it.

Any info appreciated.

I noticed you mentioned Rotten Eggs Smell. My husband and I purchased our home a little over a year ago. At that time water was tested, etc.

We have not done any home improvements. We do have more family members than the previous people (I think it was one lady. We are 2 adults and 2 small children). In the last few months, I've been having problems with our water pump running non-stop. In addition, our cold water smells fine at first, like rotten eggs after 10sec, then fine again. It tastes ok... although the smell really makes me not want to drink it. Also smell the Rotten egg smell outside when it has rained heavily.

Septic was pumped out 1 1/2-2yrs ago. Maybe needs to be done again? Not really sure what the smell is, although my husband said it was harmless... not so sure when I have to make baby bottles with it.

Any info appreciated.
Hi Meghan, In case you missed it I'll post it again.
If your pump runs non-stop you have, (1) a faulty pressure contreol box, or (2) a leak that won't let the pump achieve cut-off pressure or (3) a faulty check valve on your suction line from the well. To test for a leak. Shut down all the fixtures in the house and turn the pump off. If the pressure gage drops you have a leak. Now turn the pump back on and shut off the valve at the house that's the house shut off, (you're testing the service line from the pump to the house.) Will this allow the pump to pump up to pressure and shut off? If not then shut the pump off and watch for a drop in the pressure gage. If they check out OK take a good hard look at the check valve.
As for the smelly water, itsounds like the same water we have in my area. Sulfur water. The sulfer's a gas and if you fill a jar and cool it in your fridge the gas will escape leaving you with sweet drinking water. Down here if the water's too bad we run it through a aerating tank to remove the smell. Cheers, Tom

I just moved into a new apt with two bathrooms. The master bathroom has the rotten egg smell coming from the hot and cold water, I smell it in both the sink and the shower. The toilet flush tank in the master also seems to have an ugly thin film around the edges where water and air meet. I'm assuming bacterial problems?

The other bathroom however does not seem to have any of these problems.

What would be the correct action to take if its only effecting a single area of the apt?

Thanks
Danny

I just moved into a new apt with two bathrooms. The master bathroom has the rotten egg smell coming from the hot and cold water, I smell it in both the sink and the shower. The toilet flush tank in the master also seems to have an ugly thin film around the edges where water and air meet. I'm assuming bacterial problems?

The other bathroom however does not seem to have any of these problems.

What would be the correct action to take if its only effecting a single area of the apt?

thanks
Danny

Hi Danny,
The correct action would be to try and isolate the source. Since it's only the master bath branch you could call in outside help and flush the branch and all the master bath fixtures out with full strength bleach. You might also report this to the Health Department if you suspect a health hazard. This would place responsibility for clearing this up on the landlord. Good luck, Tom

Hi, I am hoping someone can help me with this topic... I have just moved into a brand new house on a building site... yesterday I did a clean of the entire house... and just last night I walked into the kitchen and got a smell of eggs. It wasn't rotten eggs though, just smelled like someone had been boiling eggs.

I sniffed around the whole kitchen and various rooms and couldn't locate it. Then I thought maybe it's the drains from the ensuite toilet above the kitchen so I went up and flushed the toilet many times with washing up liquid... the smell had then drifted upstairs.

I just came home and the same smell is in the kitchen and around the landing upstairs... please help! Remember, this is not a rotten egg smell, just eggs.

Thanks

Hi, I am hoping someone can help me with this topic...i have just moved into a brand new house on a building site.... yesterday i did a clean of the entire house...and just last night i walked into the kitchen and got a smell of eggs. it wasn't rotten eggs though, just smelled like someone had been boiling eggs.

I sniffed around the whole kitchen and various rooms and couldn't locate it. then i thought maybe it's the drains from the ensuite toilet above the kitchen so i went up and flushed the toilet many times with washing up liquid... the smell had then drifted upstairs.

i just came home and the same smell is in the kitchen and around the landing upstairs....please help!! remember, this is not a rotten egg smell, just eggs.

Thanks


Before you can remove the smell you must first locate it. Is it stronger in the water supply or drainage? Some crud in the aerator? Bacterial growth in the disposal or the dishwasher? A faulty trap in the kitchen sink? "Snort" it out and we'll began to get it gone. Good luck, Tom

Hi, I recently posted a question about a smell of eggs in my kitchen... what has been happening is, every time I do all the washing up of dishes and the kitchen area in general... I start to get a smell of eggs... I'm living in a brand new house. There is no dishwasher or waste disposal, I have used a drain unblocker which actually made the smell worse (I don't think there is a blockage in the drain)... my washing machine is brand new.

I'm at a total loss and feeling very stressed as every time the house is clean... this smell gets very strong. Other factors that might be of assistance... it has been very hot out the last few weeks and it seems when it rains the smell lessens... it is a new building site so there's only a certain amount of people living around... and my toilets don't have the best drainage system although I flush them multiple times with washing up liquid to try to keep them clear.

Please help me as I am at my wits end

Thanks

Hi, I recently posted a question about a smell of eggs in my kitchen....what has been happening is, every time i do all the washing up of dishes and the kitchen area in general....i start to get a smell of eggs...i'm living in a brand new house. there is no dishwasher or waste disposal, i have used a drain unblocker which actually made the smell worse (i don't think there is a blockage in the drain).... my washing machine is brand new.

I'm at a total loss and feeling very stressed as everytime the house is clean...this smell gets very strong. other factors that might be of assistance... it has been very hot out the last few weeks and it seems when it rains the smell lessens... it is a new building site so there's only a certain amount of people living around... and my toilets don't have the best drainage system although i flush them multiple times with washing up liquid to try to keep them clear.

Please help me as i am at my wits end

thanks

Before we can help we have to have the problem localized for us. Smellydrain, water smells coming out of tub spout, etc. Until we have some place to start we're stopped. Your new home should have a warranty. Complain to your builder, talk to your neighbors in the building. See if they have the same problem. In the meantime let me give you a few places that if I were there I would check. If I thought it was coming from the water I would check the water heater for bacterial growth. Next I would turn to the anode rod in the heater and change it from magnesium to aluminum. Then I would check out the kitchen faucet and the aerator screens for and bacterial growth.
If I thought it might be the drainage or vent I would ask the builder check to see if any vents were left open inside my walls, especially the kitchen vent. Or listen for a "gurgle" or "belch" in a trap when water's being drained. We can tell you what's wrong and how to fix it but first you have to point us in the right direction. We'll wait on your answer. Tom PS. Get your builder and contractor involved.

We recently bought a new house and the water from the well has a sulfer smell (all taps). We have a heavy duty whole house water filter that is installed after the well pump & sand filter, before the pressure tank. It has a Granular Act. Carbon filter - 25 microns (Culligan RFC-BBS). A new filter helped reduce the sulfer smell for about 3 weeks to a month (they're suppose to last about 3 months).

The water tests showed the following (all are mg/L)

Arsenic <0.001
Barium <0.015
Cadmium 0.0002
Chromium - not detectable
Copper 0.069
Fluoride 0.98
Iron <0.028
Lead 0.017 - this is the only one that barely exceeded the Maximum Contaminate level of 0.015, but they said since the house was sitting vacant for a while (6 months or more) that it probably dropped once the well got used more regularly.

Manganese 0.075
Nickel < 0.003
Selenium <0.002
Sodium 54.5 (which was noted as HIGH)
Sulfate 1.6

This test was done just after a new filter was installed.

We also had a bacteria test done as part of the home inspection (ie. Old filter - no water running for quite a few months). The bacteria test showed absence for both Fecal & Total Coliform.

The water also has a slight yellow tinge to it. Is there an additional or different water filtration system that we should look at installing to reduce/eliminate the sulfer smell. We prefer a whole house system as it's no fun to shower in sulfer water - but would consider a system just for the kitchen sink for drinking water.

Any advise, where to start research, etc?
Thanks,
Coleen

We recently bought a new house and the water from the well has a sulfer smell (all taps). We have a heavy duty whole house water filter that is installed after the well pump & sand filter, before the pressure tank. It has a Granular Act. Carbon filter - 25 microns (Culligan RFC-BBS). A new filter helped reduce the sulfer smell for about 3 weeks to a month (they're suppose to last about 3 months).

The water tests showed the following (all are mg/L)

Arsenic <0.001
Barium <0.015
Cadmium 0.0002
Chromium - not detectable
Copper 0.069
Fluoride 0.98
Iron <0.028
Lead 0.017 - this is the only one that barely exceeded the Maximum Contaminate level of 0.015, but they said since the house was sitting vacant for a while (6 months or more) that it probably dropped once the well got used more regularly.

Manganese 0.075
Nickel < 0.003
Selenium <0.002
Sodium 54.5 (which was noted as HIGH)
Sulfate 1.6

This test was done just after a new filter was installed.

We also had a bacteria test done as part of the home inspection (ie. old filter - no water running for quite a few months). The bacteria test showed absence for both Fecal & Total Coliform.

The water also has a slight yellow tinge to it. Is there an additional or different water filtration system that we should look at installing to reduce/eliminate the sulfer smell. We prefer a whole house system as it's no fun to shower in sulfer water - but would consider a system just for the kitchen sink for drinking water.

Any advise, where to start research, etc?
Thanks,
Coleen


Good morning Coleen,

I live in Florida where we have a sulfur water problem in some areas. We aerate the water. Some build their own using two pumps. A large vat of water and a bank of sprayers that aerate the water from the well where it sets in the holding vat until the house makes a draw. This method will take the sulfur out of the water but the open holding tank makes it necessary to purchase drinking water. The next is a commercial unit and the third is something I found on the web that you might look into. The links to check out are; http://www.dominionwater.com/WaterWellSystems/HydrogenSulfide/index.asp
And http://www.pureintake.com/
I can't comment on the last link but it looked interesting enough to include. Good luck, Tom

Thanks for the links. The 2nd one I believe is just the procedures for shock clorinating your well (the "What causes the ..." page implies this). Certainly don't need to pay $$'s for information that is readily available elsewhere.

-Coleen

Thanks for the links. The 2nd one I believe is just the procedures for shock clorinating your well (the "What causes the ..." page implies this). Certainly don't need to pay $$'s for information that is readily available elsewhere.

-Coleen
Please let me know what you decide. If someone in your household's handy with tools and has some plumbing/electrical knowledge I can show him how to construct a "back yard aerator" using a horse trough, a centrifugal pump and lawn sprinkler heads. Cheers, Tom

Hey if you are still looking for a answer for your smelly cold pipe try this

Step 1: go to your water heater and turn off the valve
Step 2: hook up a hose to the drain at the bottom of the heater and open if
(frist run the hose to the outside or to a drain like your toilet)
Step 3: let all the water drain out ( you may have to open the t&p valve to speed it up)
With the drain open turn on the water to your water heater and flush out all
The slug in the heater.
Step 4: close the t&p valve if open and the drain, let the water heater fill up and test and
See if you smell any oders

Note: if your water heater is more than 6 years old think about replacing it

How can tellurium dioxide be separated from silicon oxide?