When you turn on the faucet and notice that the water coming out is anything but clear, your first reaction may be panic. However, there are several reasons why the water in your Arizona home may be discolored.
Corrosion
One possible cause for the water in your home changing color is pipe corrosion. If you have metal pipes, as opposed to plastic or concrete, then you are more likely to experience corrosion. This is because plastic and concrete pipes are immune to corrosion.
The reason for the corrosion can be the result of the properties of the pipe, the chemical make-up of the water, or even the soil that surrounds the pipe. If you have corroded pipes, then they will need to be replaced. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, you should hire a licensed professional.
Too Much Build-Up
Ever turned on your tap and noticed brown water running out? We get it—it’s not a pleasant sight! The good news is, it’s usually not harmful. Most of the time, it just means something stirred up the main water supply, causing a temporary build-up of minerals, sediment, or rust. Even excess iron can give your water that brownish tint.
If you’ve recently had plumbing work done or your water company’s been working on the lines, it’s pretty common for this to happen for a short while. But if you notice it happening often, that could be a sign of rust inside your pipes—and that’s something to fix sooner rather than later. Rusty pipes can weaken over time and eventually leak, which could lead to costly water damage in your home.
Pollution and Arizona’s Environment
Here in Arizona—especially around the Valley—we deal with unique environmental factors that can also affect our water quality. With our dry climate, frequent dust storms, and high-pollution days, it’s easy for debris to build up in outdoor systems and pipes. When it finally rains, all that dust, dirt, and residue from roads or lawns can wash into the water system, sometimes causing your water to look cloudy or discolored.
If that happens, it’s best to hold off on drinking or bathing in the water until you know what’s going on. Even clear water isn’t always perfect—but discolored water is definitely worth checking out. When in doubt, you can always give your local water provider or a trusted plumber (like us!) a quick call to get peace of mind.
Testing Your Water
To determine the true cause of brown or discolored water, see if you notice a smell when it’s coming out of the tap. For instance, chlorine is a normal smell, but methane may not be. You can also check to see if you have stains on your clothes after you wash them. This may be a sign that you have hard water. If so, try running your cold water tap to see if the water clears. This could take a few minutes. You can also ask your neighbors if they’ve been having similar issues. If so, then you may be able to narrow the issue down to a problem with your main water supply rather than with a pipe in your home.
Sometimes your water company will post updates to their website indicating when they’ll be working on the lines and when to expect changes in your water. Keep an eye out for these updates to assuage your concerns.
If your water comes from a well, you can always have your water tested to find out what is truly in it. In particular, the EPA recommends testing every three years if you notice a difference in the way your water tastes, smells, or looks. Specifically, in addition to hard water and corrosion, they also recommend testing for:
- Sulfate
- Iron
- Manganese
- Chloride
Experiencing Problems with Your Water? Ambient Edge Can Help!
If you believe your discolored water may be the result of a corroded pipe, and you don’t feel comfortable attempting to repair it yourself, then you need to call in a licensed professional. The emergency plumbers on our team at Ambient Edge are here for you 24/7. And when you don’t have clean running water in your home…it’s always an emergency.
Call us at 833-226-8006 or use the contact form on our website to schedule your repair. At Ambient Edge, we offer all our customers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every repair and installation we perform. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, and we are always punctual.
We serve several locations throughout Arizona, including Bullhead City, Kingman, and Golden Valley. So, if your water doesn’t look quite right, and you’re not sure what’s causing the problem, don’t delay – call us today!
