Hot Water Smells or Discolours
A metallic, eggy or musty smell from hot taps, sometimes with discoloured water..
A metallic, eggy or musty smell from hot taps, sometimes with discoloured water.
What is actually going on
A metallic, eggy or musty smell from hot taps, sometimes with discoloured water.
The realistic causes, in order
Bacterial activity in a cylinder stored below a safe temperature Sacrificial anode deterioration in some cylinder types, giving a distinctive smell Debris or corrosion products from old pipework, showing as discolouration rather than smell
What we test on site
Stored water temperature at the cylinder and delivered temperature at outlets Cylinder type and anode condition where applicable Whether cold water is affected too, which points at the incoming supply instead
Safe checks to make with hot water that smells
- Check whether cold water is also affected, which changes the diagnosis entirely
- Note whether the smell appears only after the water has stood
- Hot water stored too cool can allow legionella bacteria to develop. Store temperature and outlet temperature are managed separately for exactly this reason.
Who does the work
- Gas Safe registered engineers — registration 554328
- Worcester Bosch accredited installer
- John The Plumb Ltd, company registration 10026483
Get hot water that smells diagnosed properly
Correcting store temperature and, where needed, disinfecting the system resolves it safely.
Questions we get asked
Does hot water that smells mean the cylinder needs replacing?
Bacterial activity in a cylinder stored below a safe temperature
What normally puts hot water that smells right?
Correcting store temperature and, where needed, disinfecting the system resolves it safely.
Is it safe to keep using the system with hot water that smells?
Hot water stored too cool can allow legionella bacteria to develop. Store temperature and outlet temperature are managed separately for exactly this reason.