Is your water red, brown or black? Here’s why!
Why is Your Water Discolored?
In many homes, discolored water can be not just a nuisance, but a potential health problem as well. Depending upon the cause, repairs can range from installing water filters or adding chemicals to the water to replacing pipes or sewer lines.
Whatever the case may be, if water is discolored you’ll need the services of a Montgomery plumber to rectify the situation. To be sure you understand why your water is discolored and what can be done about it, here are some possible causes and solutions to the problem of discolored water.
Red Water
While it may look like tomato juice, water that has turned red is not something you want to be drinking. Chances are pretty high that it has come through pipes that have started to rust on the inside, which helps turn the water red from the rust it gathers as it passes through the pipe on its way to the faucet.
Once a plumber determines this to be the problem, any pipes affected need to be replaced. This problem can be found in both older and newer homes, although it’s far more prevalent in older homes. Pipes usually affected include ones found in basements, attics, garages, or crawlspaces, or in any other place that is dark and damp.
Black Water
This water looks disgusting, and for good reason. If your home’s water turns black, there could be any number of possibilities. Dirt could have found its way into the home’s water line, the mineral content of it could be very high, or mold may have contaminated the water.
However, in all likelihood, the water has been contaminated by sewage leaking into the home’s water line. If this happens, repairs can be extensive as well as costly. Sewer lines, and possibly the water line as well, may need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Rusty Water
Water that looks reddish-brown is probably hard water that has high levels of various minerals such as iron and magnesium, which gives it the darker color. Commonly found in well water, it can stain virtually anything it touches.
To be rid of it, water softeners can be added by a Montgomery plumber to lower mineral levels, and water filters can also be installed in kitchens and bathrooms to cleanse the water of excessive minerals prior to it being used. In addition, other chemicals can be added if needed to alleviate the problem.
If your water is discolored in your Montgomery, AL home, call Cole Plumbing at (334) 458-9413 today, and we’ll solve the problem for you!
