What to do if you have odors?

The Commission recommends that you collect the water in a clean cup or glass without allowing the water to enter the drain.  Away from the drain, smell the water in the cup/glass to determine if you detect the same odor.  This step will help identify if the odor is in the drain or the water.

  1. If the odor is determined to be in the drain, we recommend disinfecting the drain by pouring approximately 2 cups of undiluted bleach into the drain.  Allow the bleach to “sit” in the drain (P trap) for at least 15-20 minutes before flushing with tap water.  This will allow concentrated bleach to react with the odor causing bacteria in the drain and hopefully solve the odor problem.
  2. If you don’t have bleach, use baking soda.  Pour about 1 cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by 1 cup of water and let “sit” for 20-30 minutes.

These steps may need to be repeated several times to completely resolve the drain odor.  The P trap may also be removed from the piping under the sink and cleaned by hand.  Products containing bleach and ammonia should never be mixed!

  1. It is highly recommended that you flush your water heater.  Even if the problem seems to be on a hot and cold water side of plumbing, the common fixtures can be affected.
  2. Flush all plumbing lines in the house.  Similar to a distribution system, the plumbing lines of a structure should be flushed to encourage the freshest water from the system is in the water line.  If it has been a while since you used that fixture, it is a good practice to let the cold water run for 30-40 seconds or until the water is noticeably colder.  All lines of concern in the house should be flushed one at a time beginning with the fixture closest to the service ending with the fixture furthest the service.  When flushing household lines, you should remove the aerators (screens) from the faucets before flushing to help velocity and remove any debris that may be trapped in the line.

If you still need help with any of these issues regarding your water please contact Customer Service at (803)359-8373.