There are few things more refreshing than a glass of clear, cold, crisp water. But what happens when your tap water begins to smell or taste differently than it used to? If the water begins to carry a green or yellow tint, does that mean it’s unsafe? Depending on where a home is located, problems such as a sulfur smell, or “rotten egg smell,” and water discoloration can affect the quality of the well water. However, there are usually ways to address the rotten egg smell and discoloration issues, and a professional well drilling company will know best how to use water purification systems, or other methods, to make your water the best that it can be.

What Causes the Rotten Egg Smell in Water?

The primary cause of the rotten egg smell in water is hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is caused by “anaerobic digestion,” the process by which microorganisms break down organic material in the absence of oxygen. This process can occur in the mud and clay of swamps as well as sewers and wells. In addition to being unpleasant to the senses, hydrogen sulfide gas can be both poisonous and flammable in large quantities, though this is rare in domestic situations. Hydrogen sulfide also corrodes pipes, which can cause a myriad of problems in the home.

Hydrogen sulfide dissipates quickly from water. To perform a simple home test, the homeowner can fill a glass with water. If the smell dissipates in roughly ten seconds, hydrogen sulfide is likely the cause of the rotten egg smell. To make certain, the homeowner should have a professional either test the water on-site or take a stabilized sample back to the lab. Once it is determined that hydrogen sulfide is indeed the problem, there are several steps that can be taken to alleviate that nasty sulfur smell from the water.

How Can Smelly Water be Fixed?

First, the homeowner must determine whether the sulfur smell is present when both hot and cold water are running, or only when hot water is running. If the rotten egg smell is detectable only when the water is warm, the problem is likely what is called the “sacrificial anode rod” in your water heater. If this is the case, the sulfur smell is not being caused by anaerobic digestion, but is created when the water reacts with the anode rod.

If the smell is present whenever the water runs, the homeowner may want to have a professional well drilling and installation company install a fiberglass, bladderless water tank with a venting system. These systems are highly effective in removing both the hydrogen sulfide and its attending rotten egg smell from the water. If the water has a high iron concentration, and iron filter may be able to effectively remove the excess iron and smell. Yet another option is a carbon-based filter, which can remove smells from well water. Contact a professional well drilling company to determine which solution will best fit your needs.

What Causes Yellow or Greenish Discoloration in Well Water?

In addition to smelly water, discolored water can also be a problem for homeowners who get their water from underground wells. In general, there are two main causes for cloudy water. The first possibility is that iron is oxidizing in the water. This results when ground from which the well water is drawn contains a relatively high concentration of iron. A second possibility is that the cloudy water contains a high concentration of tannic acid. Tannic acid is particularly common if the well is located near or around a swamp, as tannic acid is caused by decaying vegetation near your water source.

A simple home test can help determine whether the discolored water is a result of iron or tannic acid. First, allow the water to run for about fifteen minutes. Then, fill up a clean, white bucket with tap water. If the water is immediately discolored, tannic acid is likely the culprit. However, the water is initially clear, but increases in discoloration with time, the result is probably iron.

How Can Discolored Water be Fixed?

If the water in the bucket discolors slowly, the homeowner should have the well water tested for high iron. If it turns out to be the case that the iron levels are high, the installation of an iron filter can usually alleviate the problem. If the problem is tannic acid, the solution may not be so easy. There are water conditioners that have tannin beds, but these systems are generally expensive and not extremely effective. In most cases, the best option is to drill a new well in a different aquifer if at all possible. A professional well drilling company will be able to determine what the best option is for each individual home and well.

If you’ve taken the time to research your organic bedding options, settled on the textile of choice – whether it be bamboo, organic cotton or wool – and you’ve made the investment, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure you take proper care of your natural sheets and comforters. We’ve gathered some time-tested wisdom to help you care for your organic bedding so that you can enjoy hundreds of green sleeps with them.

By and large, organic cotton bedding will be machine washable, though it is always recommended that you use cold or slightly warm water instead of hot water. This helps to prevent shrinkage and fabric wear and tear. Use a natural, phosphate-free detergent and fabric softeners to ensure you’re not adding toxins to your local water systems or to your green fabric.

If you need to treat stains in your organic bedding, try a solution of 1:3 parts water to vinegar. Soak the bedding for several hours, and then hang your bedding in the sun. The sunlight will act as a natural stain-fader. Grapefruit seed extract may also work for heavy stains (applied directly). Baking soda is also a great deodorizer for organic bedding.

As with all cotton, organic cotton can shrink if exposed to high temperature heat. Not only that, but high heat drying will wear the fibers of your bedding much faster than air drying. Plus, air-drying is much less energy intense, so the greenest way to care for your cotton sheets. If you must machine dry your bedding, air dry it as much as you can, then be sure to use the lowest heat setting possible for as short a session as possible.

Once a month, it’s a great idea to air your organic cotton bedding outdoors in the sun. The breezes and sunlight will help to eliminate odors and give your bedding a thorough drying to help prevent mold and mildew.

If storing your organic bedding for a long period of time, be sure to store it in paper or a cloth bag to allow for proper air ventilation and prevent mold. Also add cedar chips or use a cedar chest to prevent moth damage.

If you find your wool comforters and pads require cleaning, it is generally recommended that you trust a professional cleaner to care for your organic bedding. Look for one that uses wet cleaning rather than dry cleaning (dry cleaning is toxic for workers and will cause off-gassing in your home).

However, if you’re not able to find an eco-friendly wet cleaner in your area, you may attempt to wash your wool with extreme care. Use absolutely cold water and never agitate. Then air dry in direct sunlight if possible.

Since wool is naturally anti-bacterial and resistant to mold and mildew without chemical treatments, you won’t have to worry about problems with odors or asthma attacks. Nevertheless, airing out your wool bedding once a month will keep it fresh and completely dry. If drying your wool organic bedding outdoors is not possible, you can put it in the dryer on COLD for 10 to 20 minutes with a clean tennis ball to give it a nice air fluffing.

You can find a great variation in metal building prices.

When you begin to get an idea of what you want it can help you to find a way to determine the price of the building that you want. There are many factors that can affect the price and you want to make sure that you are able to afford the building that you need to help you add space on your business or personal property.

You can compare metal buildings and this can help you to start your search. You may want to survey exactly what you are looking for. If you have an idea of what size that you need this can help you to find the right price. You should compare the smallest and the largest buildings that are within your price range. This will help you to get an idea of the difference in price.

When you have some idea of what you will be paying for the space that you want you will then be able to determine which building you can safely afford. The price can vary and this will also depend on your needs. When you begin to understand the prices it can help you understand that many metal and steel buildings are often more affordable than you might have thought.

When you are looking at prices you will also need to consider installation. If you are able to install the building on your own it can actually save you a considerable amount of money. If you need to pay a company to come out and do the installation this will cost you more. This is an expense that you want to be prepared for as this might be a bigger cost then what you expected.

If you can cut costs by installing your building on your own it can be a great way to save money. There might be some friends and family that you can ask for help and you might be able to get your building up and ready to go in a short time frame. When you buy metal building kits you are provided with everything you need to be successful. This makes it very simple for the owner to get this done without professional help.

Metal building prices can vary and this is an expense that you should be prepared for. When you begin to compare prices you might find a great way to save money. You can find the tricks to help you get a bigger building for a better price.