5 Things to Do When You See Dirty Water Coming out of Your Taps
You just woke up and made your way to the bathroom to brush your teeth, and as soon as you turn the water on, you welcomed by a stream of dirty water. It could happen while you are in the middle of a shower, and when you look down, you will notice the water looks unusually rusty. Whatever the case may be, it is undeniably traumatizing to see the discolored water in your home. If you are stumped and are not sure what to do, here are Five things you can do to deal with the problem immediately.
1. Contact your Water Supply Company
If your cold and hot water go brown all of a sudden, then you should contact your water supply company. Chances are something happened to a fire hydrant or water main nearby. There is also a possibility that maintenance work is being carried out behind the scenes.
What you need to do is to inform the water company’s customer service department about the problem you are having. Inquire whether any maintenance is being carried out in the area you reside. You will get all the information you need, and may even get an ETA regarding when your water will be clear again. You can also ask them about what is being done to fix the problem. Hopefully, doing so will get your problem solved in no time.
2. Drain and Flush your Water Heater’s Tank
In case you have discoloration in your water supply, you should drain and flush your water heater’s tank.
Over time, sediment builds up in water heaters. For this reason, entirely, you should drain and flush your water heater’s tank at least twice a year. Even though sediment buildup isn’t entirely harmful, but it is the primary reason why leaks occur in water heaters.
Sometimes you can experience this if you had a water heater installed recently. If dirty water comes out after flushing the tank and draining your water heater, then you should contact a professional. If left unchecked, the sediment buildup could damage your water heater permanently, or worse, make it explode!
3. Let the Water Flow a While
If only your cold water is discolored, then keep those taps running for 20 minutes, or until the water is clear again. Sometimes, rust dislodges from the inside of pipes and joins the water supply. If the problem is minute, keeping the water running will get rid of the rust. But even after running the water for some time, or after flushing the rust returns then you have a bigger problem in your hands i.e. corroded pipes.
When too much rust or corrosion builds up in your pipes, then different minerals will make their way into your water supply, making the water look more terrible than it already is. In this case, it is best to have any and all corroded pipes cleaned, or get them replaced altogether before things take a turn for the worst.
4. Call a Professional
There is a possibility that you may not be able to determine what is causing dirty water to come out of your taps. Even if you know a bit of plumbing, it will not be enough to get you on track to solving your water problem. Rather than looking for the problem on your own, and quite possibly making things worse in the process, it is advisable that you call a professional instead.
Don’t make do with just anyone, ask around to know your options. Do your homework online and check out reviews for the professional you may be interested in. Once you are confident, they will get the job done, call them. At the same time, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions you have about the problem. This way, if such a problem arises again, you will at least know what steps can be taken beforehand to keep things in check.
5. Install a Water Filtration System
One of the best things you can do to get rid of discolored water is to install a water filtration system. It may seem like a hassle and a considerable investment, but it is neither.
When you finally get a water filtration system installed, you will realize that not only will the water be clear, but you benefit from it in the following ways:
- Cut down on plumbing replacement and repair bills
- Remove soap deposits and scum in plumbing, clothes, and dishes
- Enjoy safe and clean drinking water
- Improves the taste of drinking water
Now, if you want to install a water filtration system, you will need to look around a bit. Just like when it comes to finding a professional to solve your water discoloration problem, you will need to make a similar effort to find the best water filtration system for your home. If you want all the necessary information in one place, search for the ultimate guide for buying a water filtration system for your home online.
Why do you have Dirty Water at all?
Over time, minerals, sediment or rust amasses in the water mains. This causes discolored or brown water. When you have brown water coming out of your taps, it indicates that there is a disturbance in your water mains which caused the deposits to enter your water supply.
The most common reasons why brown or dirty water comes out of the taps is due to recently replaced or damaged water pipes. Additionally, it could also be due to a change in pressure in the pipes.
Whatever the reason, it is important for you to deal with the problem right away. Apart from being frustrating to look at, the dirty water could damage your piping, which is the last thing you want if you got your piping changed recently. Of course, you will not always know where the problem is, or what is causing it, but you can always count on a professional to help you out in this regard.