🚰 Troubleshooting Guide: Why Is My Tap Water Cloudy, Smelly, or Tasting Weird?
Turned on the tap and noticed something off?
Whether your water looks milky, smells a little funky, or tastes like metal, it’s more than just unpleasant—it could be a sign of something deeper in your plumbing or water supply.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what might be causing the problem—and what you can do about it.
Whether your water looks milky, smells a little funky, or tastes like metal, it’s more than just unpleasant—it could be a sign of something deeper in your plumbing or water supply.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what might be causing the problem—and what you can do about it.
✅ Step 1: Is Your Water Cloudy or Milky?
Cloudy water is usually caused by tiny air bubbles trapped in the water.
🔍 Try this test:
• Fill a clear glass with cold water.
• Let it sit for a few minutes.
If it clears up from the bottom up, it’s just air—a harmless and common issue, especially in colder weather.
If it stays cloudy, it could be:
• Hard water with mineral deposits
• Pipe corrosion or sediment buildup
• Issues with your water heater or plumbing system
💧 Persistent cloudiness = worth having a pro check your pipes or filtration system.
🔍 Try this test:
• Fill a clear glass with cold water.
• Let it sit for a few minutes.
If it clears up from the bottom up, it’s just air—a harmless and common issue, especially in colder weather.
If it stays cloudy, it could be:
• Hard water with mineral deposits
• Pipe corrosion or sediment buildup
• Issues with your water heater or plumbing system
💧 Persistent cloudiness = worth having a pro check your pipes or filtration system.
✅ Step 2: Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs or Sewage?
A strong sulfur or sewer-like smell could be from:
• Bacteria in your drain (common in unused sinks or tubs)
• A buildup of organic material in your water heater
• Well water that hasn’t been properly treated
• A sewer gas leak if it smells strong near drains
🔧 Try cleaning your drain traps with vinegar and baking soda.
If it doesn’t help—or the smell comes from hot water—it may be inside your water heater.
🚨 If the smell is coming from multiple faucets or smells like raw sewage, call a professional immediately.
• Bacteria in your drain (common in unused sinks or tubs)
• A buildup of organic material in your water heater
• Well water that hasn’t been properly treated
• A sewer gas leak if it smells strong near drains
🔧 Try cleaning your drain traps with vinegar and baking soda.
If it doesn’t help—or the smell comes from hot water—it may be inside your water heater.
🚨 If the smell is coming from multiple faucets or smells like raw sewage, call a professional immediately.
✅ Step 3: Water Smells Like Chlorine or Chemicals?
• Most municipalities treat water with chlorine or chloramine to disinfect it.
• If your water smells like a swimming pool, it’s probably within safe limits, but may just be stronger than usual.
🌿 Solution: Install a carbon water filter on faucets or at the main line to reduce chlorine taste and odor.
• If your water smells like a swimming pool, it’s probably within safe limits, but may just be stronger than usual.
🌿 Solution: Install a carbon water filter on faucets or at the main line to reduce chlorine taste and odor.
✅ Step 4: Metallic or Bitter Taste?
A metallic, iron, or copper taste could mean:
• Old pipes (especially galvanized steel or copper)
• Rust buildup or corrosion inside the plumbing
• High levels of iron, manganese, or zinc
🛠 This could be harmless—or it could be a sign that your pipes are breaking down. A water test will tell you more.
• Old pipes (especially galvanized steel or copper)
• Rust buildup or corrosion inside the plumbing
• High levels of iron, manganese, or zinc
🛠 This could be harmless—or it could be a sign that your pipes are breaking down. A water test will tell you more.
✅ Step 5: Water Tastes Earthy or Musty?
This might be caused by:
• Algae blooms in the local water source
• Organic material in well water
• Bacterial growth in your plumbing system
It’s usually not dangerous—but definitely unpleasant.
💡 Try flushing your system by running all taps for a few minutes. If it continues, it may be time for a professional flush or filter install.
• Algae blooms in the local water source
• Organic material in well water
• Bacterial growth in your plumbing system
It’s usually not dangerous—but definitely unpleasant.
💡 Try flushing your system by running all taps for a few minutes. If it continues, it may be time for a professional flush or filter install.
✅ Step 6: Discoloration in Water? (Brown, Yellow, or Pink)
• Brown or yellow water can indicate:
o Rust in pipes
o Fire hydrant use nearby
o Aging water heater
• Pink slime in bathroom fixtures is usually airborne bacteria, not harmful but annoying
🧼 Clean fixtures regularly, and if discoloration happens often—it’s time for a deeper inspection.
o Rust in pipes
o Fire hydrant use nearby
o Aging water heater
• Pink slime in bathroom fixtures is usually airborne bacteria, not harmful but annoying
🧼 Clean fixtures regularly, and if discoloration happens often—it’s time for a deeper inspection.
🧠 So, Is It Safe to Drink?
Usually, yes—but if the smell, taste, or color changes suddenly or gets worse, don’t take any chances.
📋 A professional water test can identify what’s in your water and whether it’s something to fix at the source or filter at the tap.
📋 A professional water test can identify what’s in your water and whether it’s something to fix at the source or filter at the tap.
📞 Time to Call HI-FLO WATER AND SEWER?
Whether it’s your water heater, your pipes, or your city’s supply—we’ll get to the bottom of it.
Clean, safe, great-tasting water is just a service call away.
Clean, safe, great-tasting water is just a service call away.
Why Homeowners Trust HI-FLO WATER AND SEWER for Water Quality Issues:
• Water testing and full system inspections
• Fixture and pipe replacements
• Whole-house and under-sink filtration systems
• Water heater maintenance and flushing
• Clear pricing, no pressure—just honest solutions
• Fixture and pipe replacements
• Whole-house and under-sink filtration systems
• Water heater maintenance and flushing
• Clear pricing, no pressure—just honest solutions
We’ll help you love your water again—safe, clean, and refreshing every time you turn on the tap.
Your water. Your peace of mind. Our priority.
HI-FLO Water & Sewer