I have some floor tiles that just started collecting condensation (possibly some type of liquid coming up from underneath) leaving a pretty unpleasant moldy/musky/chemical smell. Any idea what could be causing this? I have a water pump that turns on when the water pressure dips too low so I don't think there is a main leak.
I would very much doubt that this comes from below, likely your tiles would start to lift first? more likely it is a leak from a sink drain, washing machine or even a fridge, hence the musky smell, soap residues do turn mouldy? having said that it only takes a very small leak from the mains (something you would not notice from the pressure pump) to cause this over time.
The condensation/water was not around any sink or appliance and the water on that side of the house hasn't been used for a very long time. No water coming from the ceiling. There could be a water line (one that has not had the valve opened in years, possibly a over a decade) that runs directly under the area that had water coming up. It only did it for a short period of time last night. After cleaning it up it did not return so I'm not sure it is even a leak. I will be moving in about a week so I'm not all that concerned with it. I'll just give the landlord a heads up.
Water that sits for a very long time (years) in a pipe becomes very putrid. There is a different kind of bacteria that thrives in anaerobic situations. The water will smell so bad (like rotten eggs) that the smell can work its way through cheap quality plastic pipe. The bacteria can slowly work its way back into the rest of the water piping during the night when there is little water flowing. Best to run clear water through all pipes at least once every 90 days.
A sort-of-connected story is one where I saw water on the floor of a CR in a rented house. I put tissue paper on the wall below the inlet water pipe I suspected was leaking - it soon became very wet. I told the landlord - he was a very arrogant man and told me it was coming up from the floor. His man dug up the floor tiles and found nothing - then his man turned his attention to the inlet water pipe and found the leak. Spent 3 days and during that time also broke the basin! Could have repaired it in only 1 hour if he had listened.
This may be why my water smells like sh*t at times, or maybe not. I opened the valve in question (that fills an empty fish pond) to let the water clear out. Strange it is not attached to the same lines the pressure pump is attached to for some reason...the house doesn't seem to be on one meter. I guess it is a problem for someone else since to figure out. This place is taking a part, it's been a good 10+ years.
