You've just gotten out of bed and are going to brush your teeth. You run your brush under the faucet, turn on the water, and... A stream of brown, hazy mush falls from the spout. Rust-colored water isn't usually dangerous, but it isn’t an ideal situation for managing your home. If you’re experiencing rusty water, corroded pipes, mineral buildup, and utility company operations could all be potential factors.
Seeing your home's tap water turn rusty can be a traumatic event, especially if you don't know why. If rusty pipes are the cause of your home's water discoloration, we'll outline what you can do about it. 1st Choice Water Solutions believes that everyone should have clean, safe drinking water at home.
What Causes Rusty Water?
When water from a faucet looks brown, yellow, or red, it generally indicates the presence of sediment or minerals like iron and manganese. These minerals can enter the water supply at a variety of sites, including the pipes in your home. Often times, sediment and minerals enter your homes water supply due to old and rusty pipes, making cooking and drinking water unbearable.
In most areas, your town or neighborhood will flush the fire hydrants once a year, occasionally causing the water from your faucets to turn brown. This isn’t cause for alarm, simply run the water for a brief period of time until the water runs clear again. If the discoloration persists for longer than a few hours it’s important to contact us directly. Our highly trained professionals will be able to narrow down the cause in greater depth.
What Are the Health Risks of Rusty Water?
The first question that typically comes to mind when experiencing discolored water is, "is it dangerous?". The quick answer to this question is no. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), minerals like iron and manganese in secondary water are inevitable. These pollutants are not dangerous to your health and simply necessitate voluntary testing. So, while your rusty-colored water may appear, smell, and even taste awful, it is most likely not harmful to your health.
To have a better understanding of the severity of your rusty water, contact 1st Choice Water Solutions. We are able to run tests and examine your pipes in a detailed manner to determine when it’s cause for concern.
How Do I Solve Rusty Water Issues?
Just because off-colored water isn't harmful to your health doesn't mean you have to put up with it. The first step in resolving the issue is determining where and how pervasive the discoloration is. Your water can then be assessed, and various solutions, such as water purification, may be recommended.
If Only a Few Faucets' Are Affected
Most of the time, this indicates that there is rust or corrosion in the plumbing pipes around those faucets. Run the water for 10-20 minutes to observe if it clears up—a small quantity of rust could have simply broken out from inside the pipe. If the water does not clear, you should have your pipes inspected by a professional plumber, as they may need to be changed before they corrode further or completely break.
If Only Your Hot Water is Discolored
There's a good chance you have sediment in your hot water tank. You’ll need to drain and then flush the tank to clear things out, then refill and heat it before testing the water again. If it's still discolored after performing this test, it's time to contact a plumber.
If the Hot and Cold Water Turn Brown Suddenly
This indicates that the contamination is originating from the public water source. Report the matter to your water provider and find out if there has been any recent maintenance or repair work in your neighborhood.
Plumbing Service From 1st Choice Water Solutions
Dirty or rusty looking tap water can be a cause for concern, but it’s also an issue that can usually be resolved quickly by an experienced plumber. To enjoy crystal-clear whole home water systems, trust the team at 1st Choice Water Solutions. To schedule an appointment, call (888) 292-3496 today.
