What to Do When Your Water is Discolored

Many of our clients have occasionally complained about the abrupt appearance of brown water flowing from their faucets. It is crucial to realize that there are a few potential causes for this kind of water discoloration if it has ever happened to you. The water may be entirely safe to drink in the majority of situations, but it occasionally may be contaminated and constitute a serious health concern.

In this post, we’ll explain what makes your home’s water turn brown, what you can do to stop it, and how to fix the issue so that you may once again enjoy clean, clear water. However, if the problem continues, get assistance from the professionals at Elizabeth Drain Service.

Why is My Tap Water Brown?

The silt, minerals, or rust that have accumulated in the water mains over time may be the reason of your water’s brown color. The water supply to your home may become contaminated with these sediments and turn brown or discolored. If you discover that the water coming from your taps is brown, local construction activity or another event that disrupted the deposits may be to blame.

When this occurs, all you have to do is wait a few hours for the water to clean out. You’ll need to contact a licensed plumber to identify the origin of the discolouration if this doesn’t work.

The most frequent causes of brown water coming from household plumbing systems are recently replaced pipes in the house or water pipes that are broken. Your water turns brown when rust leaks from the pipes and into your water supply. A change in water pressure during repairs frequently causes loose deposits in the pipes to be dislodged.

Before they develop a leak that can result in water waste, the rusted or broken pipes need to be found. These pipes can be located and fixed by a plumber before they cause more harm.

A buildup of minerals in the water lines is another frequent reason for brown water. Homes with well water or those that use a municipal water supply with high mineral content are more likely to experience this. Over time, these minerals may accumulate and change the color of the water.

It can be important to regularly clean out your water softener in order to get rid of the mineral buildup. You might need to install a water softener if you don’t already have one to help with the issue.

Is the Water Hazardous or Toxic?

No, the brown water in your home is normally not harmful. Your water may be brown because of iron, which is present for the earlier mentioned causes. Your tap water generally contains iron. It is a component of soil that occurs naturally and is not dangerous unless it is present in large quantities.

Even if the water is safe to drink, we don’t recommend it. Having rusty pipes results in rusty water, which can be a haven for bacteria. Additionally, rust can lead to pipes leaking and a mold and mildew infestation, all of which are harmful to everyone’s health.

How Can I Remove Brown Water?

Running cold water from your faucet for at least 20 minutes will permanently get rid of brown water from your property. Contact your city’s utility company and ask them to flush the brown water out using a fire hydrant if the water is still brown after doing this. Call the experts if the issue still exists after this.

Next, determine whether the discolored water in your home is exclusively coming from the hot or cold water. If the issue is limited to the hot water, your water heater may be at fault. It might need to be flushed. Your tank’s interior rust may be the reason why your water is becoming brown. You can fix this by draining and refilling your water heater as directed by the manufacturer. The rust may be an indication that your water heater is nearing the end of its useful life. Once you’re certain that the brown water is coming from your home’s hot water heater, call Elizabeth Drain Service to schedule a water heater check.

Ask your neighbors whether they are having the same issue if your water heater is not the cause. If they are, you should get in touch with your city’s utility company because it is possible that the problem stems from the plumbing that supplies the city’s water supply system. You’ll need a specialist to remove the rust from the pipes in your home if your neighbors do not share the same issue. If this doesn’t totally address the problem either, your only option is to purify the water using filters and softeners.

Although it can be a pain, discolored water is typically not harmful. The rust in the pipes is typically to blame for the color, which is not harmful to your health. After trying these fixes, if the issue still exists, contact a licensed plumber. They will be able to assist you in identifying and fixing the issue’s root cause.

Need Professional Plumbers? Get in Touch With Us!

It’s crucial to take action right away to fix the issue if you notice brown water in your home. There are numerous causes of brown water, some of which are more harmful than others. Most of the time, the issue is fixable with a little bit of work. But it’s crucial to contact a specialist if the issue continues. With regards to brown water, Elizabeth Drain Service has years of experience assisting homeowners. Call us at (908) 304-9983 right away!