Why is Your Water Discolored?
When people go to their kitchen sinks or bathtubs, they expect clear water to be flowing from them. However, in many cases people turn on their faucets and find water of various colors flowing freely.
When this happens, there are a number of factors that could be causing this. Most often, the color of the water will provide clues as to the source of the problem. To understand why the water in your home is discolored, here are a few tips explaining the problems and what can be done to correct them.
Dirt, Minerals, and Mold
If you find yourself having water that is dark brown or almost black, several things could be causing it. The most common things are dirt, excessive mineral content, or mold that has contaminated the water in your home. If these problems exist, a plumber can test the water to see if just one or a combination of these are working together to discolor the water.
In some cases, sewage may have seeped into the water to discolor it. If that happens, a plumber will need to examine the home’s sewer line to see if any cracks or damage to it are letting sewage into the water supply.
Rusted or Corrosive Pipes
If the water has turned various shades of red, orange, or yellow there’s a good possibility the culprit is pipes that have become corrosive or rusted. This can occur with pipes that are in older homes, or ones that are in newer homes but are located in areas that stay damp such as crawlspaces and basements.
If rust has gotten into the water, a plumber will need to be called in order to replace the pipes. The repair bill for this job can be high, but will be a necessity in order to solve the problem.
Algae and Organisms
Sometimes water will turn shades of green or bluish-green, indicating it has an algae problem or other organisms living in the water. In many cases this is not harmful to humans, but it’s still recommended they have their water tested by a plumber to confirm the exact cause of the discoloration.
In addition, a plumber can install water filters around the home to keep the water clean as it flows through the pipes and into sinks or bathtubs. While almost all water has some level of algae or organisms, too much of them can result in discoloration.
If your water is discolored in your home, call NixCo Plumbing at (513) 398-5907 today, and we’ll solve the problem for you!