Hot water that smells

[onayrb]

I live in a basement conversion flat and am gradually working my way through the many and various problems with it. Next on my list is the fact that when I turn on the hot water tap in the bathroom, the water that comes out (though clean and normal looking and hot) is accompanied by a smell which is hard to describe - but I'll give it a go. It's a sort of dank/musty unclean smell. In the kitchen, the hot water is smell free.
Technically I know nothing at all but can say that to provide the hotwater, I usually switch the boiler on (manually -as the control is a bit dodgy) and then it heats (quickly) "on-demand".
Sorry for the lack of useful information, but perhaps if I was given suggestions as to possible causes or things to check (that I would understand how to check!) -I might report back with the detail to trace the cause.

Thanks in advance

 

[JohnD]

Do you have a cold water tank? How is the water heated? Has the flat been unoccupiedfor a while?

If you have a cold tank, inspect it for dead mice/birds/squirrels/bits of wood fallen in. If it hasn't got a lid, buy one.

 

[onayrb]

Thanks John. I'll take a look and report back

 

[Agile]

I went to investigate a claim of smelly hot water.

I was very sceptical because it was a combi boiler and the information said the hot water was only smelly in the bathroom.

It was a problem with the loft cistern tank fed COLD water in the bathroom.

There was a very bloated ( and dead ) squirrel floating in the cistern!

Tony