Your first water diagnostic tools are your senses. You can, at times, see, taste, smell, and feel contaminated water. Water that is red, orange, yellow, brown, or cloudy can signal iron, rust, or other contaminants in the mains or your household plumbing. Tannins from decaying vegetation and leaves can also give water a yellow or brownish hue.
The main perceptible signs of water issues include:
Scale Deposits
Staining
Bad Taste & Smell
Cloudiness & Discoloration
Corrosion
Find Out What's In Your Home's Water!
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For over 40 years, UDI has been a trusted name in solving the Southeast’s hard water problems. We’ve pioneered water purification technology, installing over 75,000 systems in Florida and Georgia homes.
One of the most-common complaints that Florida and Georgia homeowners have about their water is a bad smell or taste. Foul-smelling or bad-tasting water are signs of impurities. Here are common water odor or taste problems you might encounter:
A rotten-egg or sulfur smell or taste suggests the presence of hydrogen sulfide. That’s often caused by a certain type of bacteria in the water. Sulfates can also cause the water to taste salty. Investigate further to pinpoint the source, such as bacteria growing in drains, water heaters, wells, or on the inside of pipes.
Musty, earthy odors and tastes may signal dissolved solids. Such aromas and tastes may be caused by decaying organic matter in the plumbing or even in the source water itself.
Then there’s the smell and taste of chlorine. It’s there for disinfection to make water safer to drink and originates during the normal chlorination treatment process, but to enjoy the taste you may want to get rid of it.
If water smells or tastes like turpentine or other chemicals that might indicate the presence of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) or xylenes, byproducts of gasoline refining, paints, detergents, or inks.
Metallic smells and tastes may be a sign of mercury, lead, copper, arsenic, or iron in the water. Manganese and zinc may also cause a metallic smell or taste. These chemicals may come from the pipes themselves.
Common Perceptible Issues:
Acidity & Low pH – When pH is low, your household plumbing pipes may leach copper into the water, causing green stains on bathroom sinks and porcelain surfaces.
Bad Taste & Smell – Contaminants that cause taste and odor issues in your household’s water can be reduced by using one or a combination of different methods.
Cloudiness & Discoloration – In most cases, water cloudiness and discoloration is a noticeable issue in both bath water and drinking water.
Corrosion – The gradual decomposition or destruction of pipes or plumbing fixtures by oxidation or chemical actions – can cause many kinds of problems with your water.
Scale Deposits – Scale deposits from water hardness buildup affects fixtures and appliances found throughout the entire home or business.
Staining – Iron and manganese are essential nutrients for your body but aren’t so kind to plumbing fixtures, appliances and even clothing.
If you’d like to learn exactly what’s in your tap water, we invite you to schedule a free demo. Call us or submit a contact form on our website. Our demos are completely free with no obligation!
