Hi everyone,
This is my first post and I hope I got the right subforum for it (if not, feel free to move it, mods!)
I'm a little perplexed with my situation here, and I've consulted some plumbers and google but to no avail. I'm hoping that someone here could help!
Setup Info
Water source: I live in a big city with city water
House age: ~35 years
House piping: copper piping throughout
Street type: cul-du-sac (end point for city water)
Water peripherals: Hot water tank (natural gas, 20+ years old)
Situation - I have an annoying smell coming only out of my cold water taps, and only from two washroom sinks faucets. The smell is very similar to rotten eggs (sulfur is what I'd describe it as) and is strongest for the first little bit after I open the tap, and then it dies down to an unoffensive state (but still has a weird taste to it).
What I've tried to remedy the situation.
Some other info that may be of help is that the faucets in my two washrooms are of no-name brand (or at least I can't find any markings to indicate a brand). The third washroom, along with my kitchen, have moen faucets, where there is no smell present.
That being said, I am currently replacing a faucet to see if it's the cause of the smell, but I'm about ready to just rip apart my drywall and re-pipe that entire section of the house... (obviously I don't want to do this because it will cost $$$ and I may still not know what the cause was!)
So.... any ideas??
And, if it comes down to it and I do have to re-pipe... should I just replace with copper or should I go with PEX?
Thank you in advance, o wise experts!
Tymko
This is my first post and I hope I got the right subforum for it (if not, feel free to move it, mods!)
I'm a little perplexed with my situation here, and I've consulted some plumbers and google but to no avail. I'm hoping that someone here could help!
Setup Info
Water source: I live in a big city with city water
House age: ~35 years
House piping: copper piping throughout
Street type: cul-du-sac (end point for city water)
Water peripherals: Hot water tank (natural gas, 20+ years old)
Situation - I have an annoying smell coming only out of my cold water taps, and only from two washroom sinks faucets. The smell is very similar to rotten eggs (sulfur is what I'd describe it as) and is strongest for the first little bit after I open the tap, and then it dies down to an unoffensive state (but still has a weird taste to it).
What I've tried to remedy the situation.
- I've called the city a few times to flush the hydrant (end-point) on our street, in case it was a city water problem. I also asked my neighbours, but none have experienced this smell. (not surprising, as this isn't wide spread through my house, but I wanted to make sure that I covered this base)
- I covered the drain and overflow to make sure the smell wasn't coming from there.
- I had the water tested for hardness. The result was exactly what the city states (7 grains per US gallon)
- I flushed all of my lines in the house for a good 30 min
- I shocked my system (cold pipes) with a chlorine water mixture for a few hours (drained all water from the house pipes, then introduced 250ml of 4% bleach to my pipes. I then slowly pressurized my lines and let the mixture sit for about 5 hours. I then flushed my pipes for another 30 min. This left a bleach smell in my line for about a day, and the water smell was then gone for about 45 days... At which point, it began to slowly come back.
- I shocked my system (cold pipes) again, but now with 6% bleach and very little water (same steps as my previous step). The Bleach smell lasted about 3 days and then my water was smell free for about 2 months, at which point the smell came back.
Some other info that may be of help is that the faucets in my two washrooms are of no-name brand (or at least I can't find any markings to indicate a brand). The third washroom, along with my kitchen, have moen faucets, where there is no smell present.
That being said, I am currently replacing a faucet to see if it's the cause of the smell, but I'm about ready to just rip apart my drywall and re-pipe that entire section of the house... (obviously I don't want to do this because it will cost $$$ and I may still not know what the cause was!)
So.... any ideas??
And, if it comes down to it and I do have to re-pipe... should I just replace with copper or should I go with PEX?
Thank you in advance, o wise experts!
Tymko