Why Is My Home’s Water Discolored? Expert Plumber Insight

No one wants to turn on their faucet and see a stream of cloudy or brown water. Water is too important to our daily lives to be unusable when it flows into our homes. When we see discolored water, we know there’s a problem, but why, and what can we do to fix it?

Let’s explore a few reasons your water may be tainted and whether there are dangers associated with discoloration. 

Why Is My Water Discolored?

Discolored water is a sure sign of poor water quality, but you’ll need to know why your water is discolored to properly solve the problem. Your water may be discolored for any of the following reasons:

• The town’s filtration system isn’t working efficiently
• The pressure in the city’s water lines has been altered
• Drought or high rains changed the water table
• Your home’s water lines are corroding

When a water main breaks or the water lines are flushed, the pressure of the water flow changes. The rust, dirt, and sediment built up in the water line is disturbed and picked up by the water entering your home. 

During droughts, fresh surface water comes into contact with sediment at the bottom of the river or stream supplying water. Extreme weather conditions can also cause problems for homeowners that use a private well. Excessive and heavy rains will trigger fluctuations in the water table, and an excess of iron will seep into the water supply, causing discoloration.

The most common reason water discoloration occurs is a broken water pipe or a recently replaced pipe. Rust from the broken pipe slips into the water supply turning it brown. Replacing a pipe can also change the water pressure and loosen deposits from the piping.

How Dangerous Is Discolored Water?

Discolored water is usually not considered dangerous. The issue is usually due to a sediment or iron build-up, and the concentrations are too low to be considered harmful. However, you could potentially ingest bacteria like mold or mildew, which will have an adverse effect on your health. As a result, you may want to wait to drink your home’s water before it’s fixed.

How to Fix Discolored Water?

As soon as you see the discolored stream, you should spring into action and have the issue rectified. The following methods are extremely helpful in solving water discoloration:

• Flush your water heater: Flushing your water heater can be a way to solve discolored water if you only notice the discoloration when your water is hot. If a water heater is causing the problem, you probably have a corroded anode rod that needs to be replaced, too much sediment in the tank, or the inside of the hot water tank may be rusty. A plumber can replace your anode rod or flush your tank to solve issues with corroded anode rods or sediment build-up. However, if the interior of the tank is corroding, they may need to replace it.
• Install a filtration system: Hard water that’s filled with minerals and sediments can often be the cause of discolored water. Fortunately, a filtration system will get rid of mineral build-up and sediments that may be causing the problem. Trained plumbers can add different filters to the system to ensure issues particular to your home are taken care of. Since some issues can be caused by issues with the town’s filtration system, a home filtration system can be a great backup solution, keeping your water clear even when the city’s system has failed.

Choose Peter Levi for Water Discoloration Services in Novato and Vacaville

If you need water discoloration services near you in Novato, Vacaville, or the surrounding Northern California area, Peter Levi can make sure your water is safe and running clear. Whether you need a hot water heater replaced or a filtration system installed, our team can provide a solution fitting your budget. We also offer multiple coupons to ensure our clients get an excellent deal.

Learn more about our plumbing and water heater services today. If you need service, please make an appointment online or call us at 800.605.5713.