My water tastes or smells metallic 

Find out why your water tastes or smells metallic and what you can do about it. 

Metal pipes can influence the taste of your water

Why does my water taste metallic? 

A metallic or bitter taste in water is normally associated with increased concentrations of metals commonly found in domestic plumbing systems, such as copper or zinc.

It can be due to water standing in your pipework for several hours or pipes being too close to hot water pipes. A tell-tale sign is when you turn the cold tap, the water initially comes out warm. 

This can be more noticeable in large buildings or in buildings with long lengths of pipework. Also, if you have a water storage tank, check what material it is made from and what condition it is in.

What to do if your water smells metallic 

Run the taps 

Run your tap for 3-4 minutes to draw fresh water in from the mains supply. You should notice a change in taste when all the water has been cleared from your system.

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Contact us 

Metallic tastes/smells are usually fixed by running your taps. If the problem persists, it may be worth moving your pipework so that the central heating pipes are not so close to your cold water pipes. 

If these solutions don't clear the problem, please feel free to contact us. 

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