Musty smell from hot water

pyounger · 24 Feb 2020

We have an older system for the hot water I.e. water tank (covered) in the loft feeding a copper cylinder in the airing cupboard.

just lately the hot water has started to smell, even after running the water for a while. The odd thing is that it is less noticeable upstairs, when filling the bath, yet a single glass full of water from the kitchen hot tap has quite a noticeable musty, sometime earthy smell. Sometimes you get the impression that it is ‘chemical’ rather like the smell you get from ant killer (powder type), which I know sounds stupid!

I have googled this but the answers there all refer to the mains cold water supply.

any suggestions?

ETAF · 24 Feb 2020

have you looked in the covered water tank

CBW · 24 Feb 2020

As above, and also have you replaced any taps recently and used flexi hoses?

pyounger · 24 Feb 2020

No not looked in the tank, just because it has a tight fitting lid and a load of insulation so didn’t think anything could get in there.
Yes, I have recently change the kitchen tap using flexi hoses - that is the silver coloured braided type not the flexi copper type, they came with the tap, a monobloc type

Nige F · 24 Feb 2020

Ah, so - the smell of chinese rubber lining the flexis .? You wouldn't get that with the London Rubber Co.

pyounger · 24 Feb 2020

I suppose it’s also carrying the corona virus too!
It’s not affecting the cold water, same type of flexi hose.

CBW · 24 Feb 2020

pyounger said:
I suppose it’s also carrying the corona virus too!
It’s not affecting the cold water, same type of flexi hose.

Could be something as daft as it’s reacting with the heat.

ETAF · 24 Feb 2020

or a tiny mouse has managed to squeeze into the tank , always worth a look , just in case - any cold taps run off the tank at all, or are they all from mains water ?

pyounger · 24 Feb 2020

Not thought about wildlife taking a swim - shudder the thought if that’s the problem!
I guess it makes sense that heat could react with the rubber.
I think I will check the tank for creatures and change the flexi hose, although how I know I’m not buying another Chinese import I don’t know, the Screwfix catalog doesn’t mention the country of origin

CBW · 24 Feb 2020

If you’re looking for a replacement, go with a wras approved one, but you may still need a form of backflow protection. If you changed it for copper, wouldn’t be needed.

pyounger · 24 Feb 2020

The Novice said:
If you’re looking for a replacement, go with a wras approved one, but you may still need a form of backflow protection. If you changed it for copper, wouldn’t be needed.

what is “back flow protection” no mention of that with the tap installation instructions?

the thing is I would be prepared to use a copper flexi pipe ( needed because of very complex layout of pipes) but the flexi pipes were supplied with the monobloc tap and have the small screw thread to go into the tap base, the other end being the standard ½” compression on the other end

stop press: I’ve just discovered that the flexi pipe used is indeed WRAS approved and was only installed last June

CBW · 24 Feb 2020

pyounger said:
stop press: I’ve just discovered that the flexi pipe used is indeed WRAS approved and was only installed last June

It might not be the flexi that’s causing the smell then (can’t be ruled out completely, but unlikely).

Backflow prevention/protection is to prevent water being flow opposed to the direction it was intended.

pyounger · 25 Feb 2020

Thanks guys for all your input - busy weekend ahead for me!

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Musty smell from hot water

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