If brown water is coming out of your toilet and faucet, it’s a big sign that something is wrong. While the rusty-brown water doesn’t pose a health threat, it can be quite unsettling.
Rust-colored water isn’t necessarily harmful, but it could be due to several issues.
Can’t find the solution to your plumbing problem in today’s article? Contact a professional plumbing company in Alexandria, VA, like Clover Services, to help get the job done quickly and correctly.
Reasons Of Brown Water In Your Faucet
Rusty Pipes
It’s important to remember that muddy or brownish water is not excrement, garbage or sewage. Instead, it’s usually a sign of mineral or sediment buildup in your home’s pipes. This is particularly common if your city water supply uses old cast iron pipes or other metals that are prone to rusting.
Rust in your pipes will likely change the color and taste of your drinking water. A plumber can help you locate and treat the rust.
If your rusty water only affects one or two faucets, the problem may be in your hot water tank or the connected water supply lines. If the issue spreads across your entire house, check with your neighbors to see if they’re also experiencing rusty water.
It could be that a utility company is conducting maintenance and has inadvertently stirred up some sediment. If this is the case, the water should clear up within a few hours.
Mineral Buildup
If you notice rusty brown or reddish water that is in all of your faucets, it may indicate a problem with the municipal water supply.
Minerals, sediment, or rust can accumulate in the water main over time, and when they break loose, it can make your home’s water appear brown or discolored. This can also happen when nearby construction work or a water main break stirs up sediment in the local pipes.
These deposits are typically not dangerous, but they can wreak havoc on your fixtures and can cause them to break down over time. These minerals, including calcium and magnesium, are what create hard water that leaves unsightly stains on surfaces in your bathroom and kitchen.
Clogged Pipes
If brown water suddenly appears in your taps, run all the faucets for a few minutes at full blast and then see whether it clears up.
If not, call the city or town and ask if they have been conducting line maintenance that has stirred up rust and sediment. They may have a fire hydrant on the property that can be used to flush out the system.
If the water is still murky after all that, and it’s especially bad in the toilet first thing in the morning, it’s probably a home plumbing issue.
A clogged pipe somewhere in the house is allowing sediment and other material to enter the supply, and a plumber will be needed to investigate the problem and repair or replace a corroded or rusted pipe.
While brown water is not harmful to drink or shower with, it does leave an unpleasant metallic taste and odor in the toilet. It can also cause stains on sinks and fixtures.
Utility Company Operations
If your tap water is brown, it could be due to a problem with the city or town’s water lines. Changes in pressure, pipe replacements, construction near your home, and even fire department use of hydrants can stir up the particles that discolor your water.
This usually resolves itself within a few hours, and it isn’t anything to worry about.
The first step is to leave your water running for 20 minutes and see if the water clears. If it doesn’t, call the city or town to see if they can send out an inspector and flush their pipes on their end.
If the water in your toilet is brown, it could be from rusting old galvanized iron pipes connected to your service pipe that connects to your household pipes.
This can also be caused by a plumbing leak in your home’s service line. If the water is brown in both your toilet and your faucets, it’s probably an issue with a clogged drain or pipe.
