Brown water coming from pipes:

How to solve the problem Of Brown Water

How would you feel if you turn on your tap and what comes out is brown water? When you turn on your tap, you expect crystal clear water to rush out, but if brown water is what you are seeing, there is a problem and you need to solve it as soon as you can.

So if you see ugly brown water coming out of your tap, what should you do? Is it safe to use? How do you get rid of it? Whether you are living in the mountains or in the city, you will likely have to deal with brown water sooner or later.

Most of us take our convenient and easy access to clean water for granted. You wake up in the morning, turn the knob on and the clean water is rushing out. You make coffee with ease, make tea with ease, shower with ease, flush your toilet with ease and use clean water for a different purpose without any problem.

One morning you get up to make coffee and use clean water for different purposes just to find out strange brown water has already taken over your tap. You will surely feel overwhelmed because it is strange. The same tap that has been supplying you crystal clear drinking water is now supplying ugly brown water. The situation can really be confusing, but what should you do? It is a serious problem you need to find a quick solution, especially if the brown color does not go away quickly.

What are the Causes of Brown Water?

When brown water comes through your faucets, the first suspect is a rusty galvanized iron pipe. When rust dissolves into the water, it tints it with some shade of brown or yellow or red or orange color. This varying discoloration is a result of chemical oxidation of your pipe and the amount of rust present in the water.

When brown water is coming out of pipes, it could be coming from the city’s municipal water main system or the pipes in your office or home. If it is coming from your city’s municipal water main system, you need to report it to your city’s water department and they will take care of it. But you know that would be a common issue and just like you’ve reported the problem, many people will also do.

If you are the only one seeing brown water and no other person has reported the issue to your city’s water department, then your home or office pipes need to be checked. If the colored water is coming from just one of your faucets, you need to inspect the pipe and replace it – you can call a licensed plumber to fix this for you.

Other things can also cause brown water:

If you are using the municipal water, sediments could have mixed into the water system when a fire hydrant was used or during a water break. The fire department may also be flushing the hydrants, which can stir sediment in the water system and cause temporary water discoloration (the fire department usually do this once or twice a year). If your water is clear within a few hours, then you have nothing to worry about.

Dirt could have also entered your water system when work is conducted on it. If this is the case, the strange discoloration will disappear within a few minutes. Also, if your water heater is old, it may be rusting and discoloring your water. Brown water could also be a result of too much iron or manganese in the water.

 

What if your neighbors are enjoying clear water and your water is brown?

If discolored water is coming out of your hot water taps only, you may need to check whether sediment has piled up in your water heaters or not. If your water heater is 10 to 15 years old, then it is time to replace it. Based on the water heater manufacturer recommendation, you should be flushing it at least once a year to clean out rust, sediment and extend its lifespan.

If your home is the only one having rusty, brown water in your community, then you need to find deteriorating pipes in your home and replace them. You need to do this yourself or call a professional plumber to do it for you because rust could cause clogs in your plumbing and create the breeding grounds for bacteria. Your best option is to replace the deteriorating pipes.

Is brown water safe for use?

While many will tell you it is safe, we want to honestly tell you it can be harmful. The rust and sediment that causes brown water may not be harmful for your consumption, it is not advisable to drink it, prepare food with it, bath with it or wash your items with it. You can’t especially use it for your laundry because it can stain your clothes. If you are in a tight situation; maybe you are getting late for work and you don’t have means of getting clear water, you can bath with the water and even flush your toilet with the brown water.

How to get rid of brown water?

If brown water problem just hit your home or office, there are few ways to get rid of it so you can start enjoying clear water again. Turn your cold water on for 20 minutes to flush out the rust. Well, this may be the time for you to get creative; you can water your garden or your lawn with the rusty water.

If you are only getting the brown water from your hot water, your hot water heater tank is likely the culprit. The water heater tank is probably corroded on the inside, causing the water to look rusty. The best way to fix this is to replace your water heater tank, but before you replace it, let a licensed plumber take a look at it and evaluate the problem. If the plumber does tell you that your tank is corroded on the inside, you should replace it immediately. The last thing you want is a flooded basement, so heed the warning and replace the tank.

If you are suffering from discolored water regularly, there is a great chance that your water line pipe(s) is rusted. This is more likely if you are not using city water. It is important to check out your pipes and replace any of them that is rust.

Do you need to call a professional plumber?

The answer is yes. Unless you are a chemist or a plumbing professional, you are likely not going to understand the danger brown water can pose, especially if it persists. Immediately you notice brown tap water and none of your neighbors is complaining of the same issue, you need to call in your plumber.

Brown water is not the end of the world; it is just an issue that will soon go away. Even if it is not consistent, you need to find the cause and deal with it before it deals with you. When you notice this issue, often times there is a more serious plumbing issue afoot it, especially if the problem is with your own plumbing system.

 

Are you having an issue with brown water in your home? Even if you have the issue in your business, we can help you. At Alfa Plumbing Services, we’ve got the most experienced and licensed plumbers. We can help you get rid of any plumbing issue faster, give us a call today.