Mildew smell from water faucets (dishwasher, hot water heater, insulated, drains)

[greatblueheron]

Need your opinions please

.....water from kitchen and bath faucets smells like mildew....(not from bath faucet or washer, toilet). Noticeable after washing hands etc.

I have read it could need: bleach/water soak for faucet filters, or maybe the water heater itself needs a bleach/water solution or repair/change out of anode tube....

Anyone familiar with this issue or have suggestions?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by greatblueheron

.....water from kitchen and bath faucets smells like mildew....(not from bath faucet or washer, toilet). Noticeable after washing hands etc.

I'd be more suspicious of the traps and drain pipes as the source of odors...
especially when noticed at sinks where you tend to stand right over the opening.

hth

[greatblueheron]

^^^ Maybe I will just hit everything with a water/bleach solution and see what happens....

Thanks

[Ultrarunner]

Some faucet spouts hold water...

Mildew type water problems should not occur with treated municipal water...

All bets are off for private systems.

You could devise a way to soak the faucet parts with clorox... maybe a bag with several rubber bands to hold it in place?

[greatblueheron]

^^ good idea-will try it

thanks

[lifelongMOgal]

Has the OP unscrewed the sink faucet heads and cleaned the screens? Soak them in a small dish with white vinegar (no bleach) to break down any mineral deposits.

[krdpm]

I had a similar problem with two bathroom sinks. I removed the aerator/screen thing and cleaned it with vinegar, and I also spooned a lot of baking soda down the drain and down the overflow hole. I then slowly drizzled white vinegar down both. (The baking soda and vinegar will fizz like crazy when they combine.) It worked for me.

[JimRom]

Best solution I've ever found for smelly drains:

1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Dump the baking soda down the drain, follow it with vinegar, wait 20 minutes and pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain after it. Also works for slow drains and partial clogs. This stuff will break hair loose from the traps. And it's septic safe.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by krdpm

I had a similar problem with two bathroom sinks. I removed the aerator/screen thing and cleaned it with vinegar, and I also spooned a lot of baking soda down the drain and down the overflow hole. I then slowly drizzled white vinegar down both. (The baking soda and vinegar will fizz like crazy when they combine.) It worked for me.

I use this method, too. In the kitchen I put soda and vinegar down the garbage disposal unit every month. I let it set for awhile, then follow with a lot of very hot water. It keeps my dishwasher from smelling, too, because all those pipes/tubes are connected. I've also taken my bathroom taps apart and cleaned them with vinegar and soda. I would avoid bleach because of its corrosive effects.

My coffee maker has a stainless steel insulated pot that gets very dark. I let vinegar and soda soak in there (make sure it's in the sink when you do it because of the fizzing explosion) and then rinse with boiling water.

[greatblueheron]

FYI

It has been a while since I asked this question....

for me, TURNING UP the temp of the HOT WATER HEATER did the trick...no more mildew smell/taste!

Might not work for all, but one solution to try~