Musty, Earthy, or Moldy Water Smell

This hub covers musty, earthy, or moldy smells in water. The odor may be strongest in a shower, bathroom sink, kitchen sink, upstairs fixtures, or laundry water.

These smells can start after filter changes, outages, plumbing repairs, winterization, or pressure changes. Sometimes it’s most noticeable on the first draw or after water has sat.

Use the groups below to match where you smell it and what changed recently, then open the closest article title.

Related sub-category: Water Contamination, Taste & Odor

Musty, earthy, or moldy odor basics

Short articles that describe common causes and immediate checks to identify the source of a musty or earthy tap odor.

• Musty smell in tap water

  Overview of likely causes such as organic material, stagnation, or biofilm and basic steps to confirm where the smell is coming from.

• Earthy odor when water first runs

  Explains why the first draw can smell earthy after sitting and suggests simple flushing and sampling tests to narrow the cause.

Where you notice it most

Guidance focused on specific fixtures or parts of the house where the odor is strongest.

• Earthy odor from shower

  Discusses shower-specific sources like showerhead buildup, trapped water in hoses, and hot/cold mixing issues to check.

• Moldy smell from bathroom sink

  Covers sink trap, P-trap drying, and aerator contamination as common reasons for a localized sink odor.

• Moldy smell only at kitchen sink

  Focuses on kitchen-specific causes including garbage disposal, aerator, and sink trap issues that create a moldy smell.

• Smell only in upstairs fixtures

  Explains how longer piping runs, unused fixtures, or trapped sections of supply line can concentrate odors upstairs.

• Musty odor in laundry water

  Looks at washer hoses, standing water in the machine, and fabric/residue buildup as causes of musty laundry water.

Cold-only, heater, and PRV timing

Articles that use whether the smell appears only in cold water or after equipment changes to pinpoint likely sources.

• Moldy smell only in cold water

  Outlines reasons cold-only odors point to supply-side contamination, storage, or distribution piping rather than the water heater.

• Moldy smell after water heater install

  Details possible causes following installation, including system flushing needs, trapped debris, or new tank biofilms.

• Musty smell after PRV install

  Explains how pressure-reducing valve work or installation-related disturbance can change flow patterns and reveal odors.

After changes or events

Resources for odors that begin or change after outages, repairs, filter changes, pressure shifts, or winterization.

• Musty odor after city outage

  Describes how main breaks or outages can introduce organics or sediment and what flushing and testing to do afterward.

• Earthy odor after filter change

  Explains why new or disturbed filters sometimes release trapped material and how to properly flush or reinstall cartridges.

• Moldy smell after plumbing repair

  Highlights repair-related causes like air in lines, disturbed biofilm, or contaminants introduced during work and next steps.

• Earthy smell after pressure change

  Notes that pressure changes can dislodge deposits or change flow direction, releasing trapped organics into the tap water.

• Earthy taste after winterization

  Discusses how winterization and recommissioning can leave residual tastes or odors and recommends flushing and inspection steps.

After long downtime

Advice for smells that appear after vacations or extended periods of no use.

• Musty smell after vacation

  Suggests flushing protocols and checks for stagnation, trapped water, and aerator or fixture buildup after return from travel.

• Musty odor after long periods of no use

  Explains common stagnation-related issues and simple steps to refresh supply lines and fixtures safely.

Well-water earthy smell

Specific considerations when the water supply is a private well.

• Earthy smell in well water

  Covers well-specific sources such as organic-rich aquifers, seasonal changes, and when to test or disinfect the well.

All Articles in This Cluster

• Musty smell in tap water
• Earthy odor when water first runs
• Earthy odor from shower
• Moldy smell from bathroom sink
• Moldy smell only at kitchen sink
• Smell only in upstairs fixtures
• Musty odor in laundry water
• Moldy smell only in cold water
• Moldy smell after water heater install
• Musty smell after PRV install
• Musty odor after city outage
• Earthy odor after filter change
• Moldy smell after plumbing repair
• Earthy smell after pressure change
• Earthy taste after winterization
• Musty smell after vacation
• Musty odor after long periods of no use
• Earthy smell in well water