What to Do if Your Water is Discolored
Many people have at one time or another complained of the sudden appearance of brown or yellow water coming out of their faucets. If this has ever happened to you, it is important to know that there could be a few possible causes for this. The water may be completely safe to drink, or it may be contaminated and pose a serious health risk. It’s good for you to know the difference or to know when to call the professionals at Air Design Systems to help.
Why is My Water Brown?
If your water is brown it could be because of sediment, minerals or rust that have built up in the pipes over time. Sediments like these can break loose and enter your home’s water supply, causing the water to appear brown or discolored.
Another cause could be because of nearby construction work or some other occurrence that has disturbed the area around your water main. When this happens, just wait a few hours and the water should clear up. If this doesn’t happen, you’ll need to call a professional plumber to diagnose the cause of the discoloration.
The most common cause of brown water coming out of your home’s plumbing system is a recent pipe replacement in the home or from broken water pipes. When rust breaks off the pipes and into your water supply, your water will turn brown. During plumbing repairs, there’s a change in water pressure which can dislodge some of the rust. The rusted or damaged pipes should be found before they cause a leak that could result in water waste or water damage.
Build-up of minerals in the water lines could also be a cause of brown or yellow water. This is more common in homes that have well water. These minerals can build up over time and cause the water to become discolored. You see this sometimes in sprinkler systems that deposit orange coloring on the sides of the house. If you use a water softener, your will want to clean it out on a regular basis to remove the deposits. If you don’t have a water softener, installing one could help with this issue. Alternatively, many people prefer to replace the well pump as they might have calcium deposits which can degrade the quality of water. Such people tend to hire firms that provide well pump installation in Redmond, WA or in their vicinity, who can replace the well system.
If you still have brown water:
If you have looked into these issues and still aren’t sure why your water is brown please give Air Design Systems a call at 202-COOL and let us help you. If your concerned that the brown water might be poisonous or undrinkable make sure you check with your local water utility to see if it is safe.