Hello, my name is Lelani O’Malley. Welcome to my website about keeping your plumbing system in great shape. When I bought my first home, I was shocked to learn that it was built in the early 1900s. Another shocking discovery awaited as I learned that the plumbing system remained from its original build. Upon learning those facts, I dedicated my time to learning how to keep that system in great condition. I developed this website to bring that knowledge to you as well. I want to help all my readers maintain their existing plumbing system for years to come. Thank you for coming by.
Should You Call A Plumber If Your Water Tastes Metallic?
Does your water taste metallic? If so, chances are you find this flavor unpleasant. It may stop you from drinking your tap water at all. So, what should you do if your water takes on a metallic taste? Call your plumber. A professional can figure out what's causing the unpleasant flavor and take steps to address it. Here are some top possibilities.
You have old, galvanized pipes.
Years ago, it was common for plumbers to install galvanized pipes in homes. These pipes are made from steel that has been coated in zinc. The zinc layer is meant to prevent the pipes from rusting, and it does exactly that. But this only lasts for so long. As they age, the zinc starts wearing away. It could be that you are tasting zinc from the inside of your pipes. It's also possible that the pipes have begun to rust, and that the flavor you're tasting is traces of rust in the water. In either case, your plumber is likely to recommend replacing your old, galvanized pipes with copper or PVC ones, neither of which should leave a metallic taste.
Some of your pipe fittings are made from iron.
It's not that common for homes to be plumbed with cast iron pipes. However, some older homes may still have a few cast iron pipe fittings. As these fittings start to rust, they can introduce some metallic ions to the pipes. Since fittings are small, the concentration of rust in the water may not be enough to give the water a rusty or orange color, but it will be enough for you to taste the rusty iron on your tongue.
It's fairly easy for a plumber to spot iron fittings, remove them, and replace them. If some of the fittings are located behind your wall, however, they may have to make a hole in the wall to access them.
Your local water is high in certain metals.
If your water has always tasted like metal, it might be because the soil, and therefore the water in your area, is high in certain metals. Manganese and zinc are common. Your plumber can't change the local soil, but they can recommend and install a whole-home water filter to remove these potent metals.
If your water tastes metallic, you don't have to just go on tolerating the unpleasant flavor. Talk to a plumbing professional about the remedies listed above. They'll let you know what fixes you need.