Your water should be pretty much odorless and tasteless. When it isn't, the specific smell or taste is a clue. Here's how to read it.
Rotten-egg / sulfur smell
Usually bacteria reacting inside the water heater, especially if it mostly shows up in hot water. The fix is often flushing and treating the tank (and sometimes replacing the anode rod). If it's in cold water too, it may be coming from the supply.
Metallic taste
Often corroding pipes — common in older galvanized plumbing — or elevated minerals. If it comes with discolored water, your pipes may be reaching the end of the line (see our repipe guide).
Chlorine / "pool" smell
Municipal water is treated with chlorine, and sometimes you'll notice it. Usually harmless and fades if you let water sit; a simple filter helps if it bothers you.
Earthy or musty taste
Often harmless seasonal changes in the source water — but if it's paired with any smell near fixtures, it's worth checking drains and the water heater.
Cloudy or white water
Usually just tiny air bubbles — fill a glass and watch it clear from the bottom up. That's harmless. If it stays cloudy or has a tint, it's worth a look.
When to call
Call if the smell or taste is persistent, if water is discolored, or if it appeared suddenly across the whole house. Those point at the water heater, the pipes, or the supply — things worth diagnosing properly.
Rotten-egg hot water or a metallic taste that won't quit? give K2 a call and we'll track down the source.