Are you searching for "why is my water brown all of a sudden"? If so, don't hit that back button because you've landed on the right page. This article will go over why your water might be brown, what to do if your water is brown, is it OK to drink brown water, can you shower in brown water, and more.
So, why is my water brown all of a sudden?
When water turns brown all of a sudden, it’s usually because of something that just happened like a recent repair that was done incorrectly using improper materials such as black iron.
Another reason why water might turn brown all of a sudden is when you turn on the water after low or no usage for a period of time. For example, when you turn on the water after you’ve been away on vacation it might come out discolored. The color is caused by the deterioration of galvanized pipes. The deterioration was there all the time. However, when you’re using the water every day, it doesn’t have time to build up.
To sum up, brown tap water indicates the water contains something that shouldn't be there. This could be various things, including stirred up sediment, minerals, rust, or something much nastier like sewage.
The following is a list of some of the causes of brown tap water:
- There’s a broken water main somewhere - Call your municipality and find out if there’s a problem.
- The municipality turned on the water after repairing a broken water main - If your local municipality has been working on the water mains, this can stir up sediment, which then finds its way into the water supply and eventually your tap. If this is the case, the water should clear after a few hours.
- A recent repair done incorrectly
- A valve setting was changed to bring in water from somewhere else.
- Contamination by raw sewage - This is a particularly unpleasant situation and the main reason you should never drink brown water.
- You have a damaged pipe somewhere in your home.
- You have a corroded pipe - Both cast iron and galvanized pipes will eventually degrade.
- One of your pipes has been recently replaced.
- Turning on your water after you’ve been away on a vacation or other extended absence.
- There's construction going on nearby.
- There's a problem with your home's plumbing.
- There's a problem with your lateral water line - This is the line that connects your home to the water mains.
- There’s a problem with your well - Well water can turn brown for various reasons including a drop in the water level, a cracked or collapsed well, rainfall, and iron or manganese contamination.
If you have discolored tap water, contact your water supplier to see if any repairs are going on that could affect your tap water. If there aren't, the problem might be with your home's plumbing. Unfortunately, your home's plumbing doesn't last forever. It has a shelf life, and once that shelf life is past, you can expect the pipes to degrade and this could cause discolored water.
Adding a whole house water filtration system will extend the life of new fixtures and water lines. However, if your water turned brown all of a sudden, you'll still need to test your water quality and have your lines and fixtures examined for internal damage.
For more information see Back to School: Reviewing the Essentials of Water Heaters.
Is it OK to drink brown water? Is brown tap water dangerous?
It is not OK to drink brown water. Brown tap water indicates that something is wrong. It means your water is contaminated. Depending on the source of contamination, drinking brownish tap water could even be dangerous. It could make you sick and even kill you if it has been contaminated by sewage.
If your home has brownish water that isn’t related to something temporary like a broken water main or pipe replacement, you need a water filtration system for your entire house.
Is it OK to shower in brown water?
It depends on what's causing the contamination. You might just be risking irritated skin. However, you could also be showering in water contaminated with sewage. Is that really showering?
Bottom line, if your water is brown, it's contaminated. Because there's more than one source of possible contamination, brownish water always needs to be looked at by a professional.
Why is my water brown in only one bathroom?
If your water is brownish in only one bathroom, the problem could be the water line to that particular bathroom or the fixture. It’s possible that one of the valves has a gasket that’s degrading. Unless you have experience fixing plumbing issues, you should call a professional and have them come out for an inspection.
What do you do if your water is brown?
If your water is brown, what you should do depends on whether the problem is limited to either your cold or hot water, or you have a problem with both your cold and hot water. The source of the contamination also affects what you should do.
Why is my cold water brown all of a sudden?
If your cold tap water is brownish, contact your water supplier and ask if they're doing work that might have stirred up sediment, which then made its way into your water supply. If so, the problem should clear up by itself if you run the tap water for 20 minutes or so.
If your water supplier told you they aren't doing any work, contact a professional and get a water quality test. Do not drink brown water. Because there's more than one possible source of contamination, it needs to be checked out by a professional.
You might also want to do a little troubleshooting and ask your neighbors if they're experiencing the same problem. If they are, the issue is probably not being caused by your home's plumbing or the lateral line that runs from your home to the main line.
Why is my hot water brown all of a sudden?
If your hot water is brownish, the problem could be your hot water heater. Contact the company that services your hot water heater and ask them to come out and have a look.
Only the hot water coming out of my shower is brown
If you're only having trouble with the hot water coming out of your shower, it may be the fixture. If so, simply replacing it and adding a filtration system will probably solve the problem.
To sum up, if your tap water is discolored and brownish, it's contaminated, and contaminated water is serious business. Whatever you do, don't drink brown water. Call a professional right away and ask for a water quality test. Depending on the cause of the problem, you might need to install a whole house filter or possibly replace all of your water lines. Anything less, and you're risking your health. Don't take a chance that your kidneys are up to the job filtering dirty water.
For more information see Common Impurities Found in Tap Water.
A whole house water filtration system is the solution to brown water
A whole house water filtration system is an easy solution to discolored, brownish tap water. In contrast to a filtration system installed under a counter to filter the water coming out of one faucet only, a whole house water filtration system filters water for the entire house.
A whole house water filtration system is installed just after your home’s main water valve and filters water before it reaches any part of your system, including your water heater. Hence the name “whole house” filter.
There are various types of whole house filtration systems, and you’ll know which one is right for you based on the results of a water quality report.
A whole house water filtration system will also prevent damage to your fixtures by filtering out anything that could damage them. You save money in the long run because replacing fixtures can be expensive.
Don’t test your luck with brown water
If your home has a problem with brown water, get a water quality report today. Contaminated water can cause:
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Dehydration
- Death
A water quality report will tell you what’s in your water and which filtration system you need.
If you’re in our service area and you have a problem with brown water, contact us today and we’ll come out and perform a water quality test.
