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What's Wrong With My Well Water? Free Checker

Updated October 31, 2026 · General information, not medical or plumbing advice

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Pick what you notice. We match it to the likely cause, the test to ask for and the kind of treatment that fits. It takes under a minute.

1. What is the main thing you notice?
2. For smell: where do you notice it?
Safety first. Taste, smell and color do not tell you whether water is safe to drink. For any health-related test, use a state-certified lab. Home kits are screening only. If a lab test comes back positive for bacteria or a harmful chemical, follow your health department's advice.

How to use the result

  1. Get a lab test first. Symptoms point at a cause, but only a lab number tells you how much is in the water.
  2. Match treatment to the report. Different levels of the same problem need different equipment.
  3. Use a licensed pro for plumbing, electrical, pump and well work, and for anything tied to a failed test.

Start with a test

A state-certified lab test is the starting point for everything on this site. A home kit can be a cheap first screen, but it does not replace a lab test for anything health-related.

What to test for and how oftenSee home screening kits
Sources
  1. U.S. EPA: Secondary Drinking Water Standards: Guidance for Nuisance Chemicals
  2. CDC: Guidelines for Testing Well Water
  3. Penn State Extension: Hydrogen Sulfide (Rotten Egg Odor) in Water Wells
  4. Penn State Extension: Iron and Manganese in Private Water Systems
  5. Penn State Extension: Water Softening
  6. Penn State Extension: Iron and Sulfur Bacteria: A Slimy Problem