Hi there,

We live in a condo that is about 1 year old. There are 2 levels to our duplex, one is on ground level, one is below ground. There are 5 other units in the building. We live in Chicago, where the sewers are at street level. Don't know if any of that is important. Anyway, in the last 2 weeks we have been noticing that the water coming out of our master bedroom taps, and master bath and shower taps, and kitchen taps smells and tastes like mildew. It goes away after you run the faucet for about 30 seconds. However, if you turn off the faucet and turn it back on, it comes right back. If you leave the bathroom without turning on the taps for a while, the bathroom smells really mildewy as well, like the smell is coming out of the drains. The master bathroom and kitchen sink plumbing are right between each other, with a wall between.

Thanks!

Your problem maybe is the backflow preventer. When pressure is higher on the street level, it must close its flapper to prevent sewer from coming in. the only way is out. It could be dangling open, or not installed at all. The smell is from the same source, your traps should prevent this from coming in. have a nice day.

Nick! You're something again. Are you suggesting the sewer and water's connected in Chicage and the only thing keeping them apart is the backflow preventer on the water service? Unbelievable! Backflow preventers have NOTHING to do with sewage, they prevenht back siphon if the main water pressure fails. This is your last warning. If you don't have the answer then don't attempt to wing it. This is the forth time I've had to jump in and correct you. The next time I have to correct you you are out of here!! THINK BEFORE YOU ANSWER!!
You can give all the " off the wall" answers you want to in advice to the love lorn but on this page, and others like it, bad advice can cost the asker money. BE WARNED!
Having lived in Chicage and having drank the water pumped from Lake Michigan I can sympathize with you. Sometimes the drinking water gets stinky. Try this, remove the aerators and soak them in bleach. This could be caused by bacteria in the system or smelly water out of the lake. Let me knoiw if it helps. Tom