Why Does My Shower Water Smell?

Showering is a means to an end and a relaxing part of the day for many people. However, strange odors can quickly disrupt that relaxation and cut your shower short. So, why does my shower water smell?

Your shower water may smell strange because the pipes that carry the water are corroded. A sulfur odor may indicate the presence of hydrogen sulfide, which may originate in your water heater. A musty odor may indicate that your shower pipes are caked with biofilm or even mold. Call a plumber if you’re concerned about how your shower water smells. 

Most odors emanating from shower water aren’t dangerous. However, some homes still have lead pipes, albeit rare, which are quite dangerous. Follow along as we explore why your shower water smells strange and highlight fixes. 

Strange Shower Water Smells And What They Mean

1. Rotten Eggs

Nobody wants to bathe in water that smells like rotten eggs, but it’s more common than you may think. That’s because the water supply is vulnerable to a few chemicals and bacteria that can create that stench. For example, your water supply may be corrupted with hydrogen sulfide, which is exacerbated by heat. 

Taking a hot shower may make the problem worse until you address the issue. The bubbles produced by your shower head can make the smell even worse. This foul gas most likely originated within your water heater. 

While that’s inconvenient, it at least makes the situation easier to resolve. You can typically fix this problem if you replace your water heater’s anode rod. It’s best to call a plumber, as water heater maintenance is difficult and even dangerous if you’re inexperienced. 

2. Metal

Do you smell metal when you take a shower? If so, you’re not alone, as it’s a somewhat common problem, especially in older homes. The metal odor you notice is most likely due to your pipes deteriorating, which happens over time. 

While you shouldn’t drink it, you don’t typically risk being harmed by standing under metallic-smelling water. However, there is a risk that the water contains traces of lead, which is dangerous. Builders quit using lead pipes in 1986 because Congress made a ruling that forbade them. 

However, pipe corrosion is still possible, albeit less dangerous, even if no lead is present. The metal smell may also be because your water has a high mineral content. Install a water softener or replace your corroded plumbing to fix this problem. 

3. Bleach/Ammonia

Don’t panic and assume that the bleach-like odor you smell is actually bleach. It probably isn’t bleach or ammonia, as that’s unlikely to wind up in your water supply. However, you may smell chlorine, which is much more likely to wind up in a water supply. 

Luckily, this is nothing to worry about. The chlorine smell is most likely intentional. Some water providers add chlorine to the water supply as part of the cleaning process. Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that many water treatment plants use to maintain clean water. 

You can contact your water supplier if you’re nervous about the odor and want to verify that it’s intentional. Sometimes, the odor will dissipate if you let the water run for a while. You can also reduce the odor if you install a showerhead filter. 

4. Sewage

Sometimes, the smell you notice while showering isn’t coming from the water at all. That’s especially true if you notice a sewer smell when you take a shower. This can happen if your shower pipe cracks and may let sewer gases leak. 

Call an emergency plumber line right away if you suspect that your home is full of sewer gas. Otherwise, the smell may be coming from the drain at the bottom of your shower instead of the water itself. Shower drains have traps full of water that keep sewer gases at bay.

Sometimes, the trap can dry out and let sewer gases seep out into your shower. A plumber can easily fix the trap and refill it with water to resolve the issue. Otherwise, you may simply need to clean your shower drain as clumps of hair and excessive bacteria can cause foul odors. 

5. Mold

The smell of mold can understandably scare anyone about to take a shower. This is a tricky situation, as it could either be caused by a problem with the local water supply or your plumbing itself. First, you must call your water supplier to explain the situation.

They should be able to tell you if the problem lies within the water system. In that case, it’s up to them to fix it, as it may affect a whole community. However, it may point to a problem that only applies to your home, such as a biofilm in your plumbing. 

A layer of bacteria and microorganisms known as a biofilm can form within your shower’s pipes. Call a plumber if you rule out the water provider being at fault. The plumber can either clean your pipes or replace them altogether to fix the problem. 

Is It Safe To Shower With Smelly Water?

It is typically safe to shower in smelly water, but you shouldn’t settle for it. Smelly water rarely poses a health risk unless it contains harmful bacteria. That said, the problem can get worse over time if your plumbing contains gases like hydrogen sulfide. 

Sulfur occurs naturally in water, but excessive sulfur can be unpleasant. Some odors, like metal, can indicate dangerous shower conditions. For example, showering in water that contains traces of lead can be dangerous.

That’s especially true if you ingest the water while you take a shower. Replace your plumbing right away if your home still contains lead pipes despite them being outlawed decades ago. 

Summing It Up

Your shower water may smell like metal if the plumbing is corroded, which is safe unless it contains lead. A bleach or ammonia smell can indicate that your local water supply has been treated with chlorine. Sewage and rotten egg odors indicate hydrogen sulfide or sewer gases, and you must call a plumber about them. 

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