It’s something you just take for granted: having hot or cold water on demand. It can be upsetting when it takes too long to heat up or there’s a loss of water pressure. But when you go to the kitchen sink for a drink and brown or cloudy liquid ends up in your glass, it can ruin your whole day.
Water is needed for many daily activities. From brushing your teeth in the morning to washing dishes after dinner to hydrating your body throughout the day. But can you imagine bathing or doing laundry with bad water flowing through the house? Neither can we. However, the situation may not be as bad as you think.
Brown or Cloudy Water? Time To Investigate
If you do come across poor drinking water quality, there are a few things you can check before calling a professional. Let the discolored water run for a few minutes and see if it clears up. Sometimes, if the water main breaks or there is work along the line, it could be the cause of the sediment. After a few minutes, it should clear up.
If you are still experiencing brown tap water, there are a few more steps you can take to help pinpoint the problem. It could be localized to one faucet, the whole house, or with the city or county infrastructure. There are a number of reasons for brown coloration, so let’s take a look at a few of the most common.
Rusty Pipes
In the Greater Portland Metro area, there is a good mixture of old and new neighborhoods. If your plumbing is more than a few decades old, you may have galvanized iron pipes in the walls or leading in from the water systems. Rust may be getting into the water supply, causing the brown, orange, or yellow hues.
If the rust is coming in from the street, it will be up to the public utility district to solve the problem. Chances are, if there’s an issue with the water pipes, you won’t be the only one calling to express your displeasure. However, if the problem is localized to your house, you’ll be responsible for the fix.
Fire!
In order to ensure fire hydrants are in good working order, they need to be flushed a few times a year. When that happens, some sediment may be disturbed and enter the lines. The problem will usually fix itself in a few hours. This situation is similar to when work is being done on the lines nearby.
Speaking of Hot Water…
If your pipes are old, there’s a good chance your water heater is old as well. The interior of the heater may be rusting and carrying discoloration throughout your home. If your storage tank is several decades old, this might be the perfect time to replace it and fix the problem. This may also explain your luke-warm water issues.
Time For Professionals
If the problem doesn’t clear up in a day or two, it’s time to call Meticulous Plumbing. We have the right tools to find the problems and the experience to get your water clean once again. Replacing fixtures, pipes, water heaters, and more, Meticulous Plumbing has been solving both residential and commercial plumbing problems for more than 30 years.
When water turns brown, you have low pressure, or looking to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, give us a call. We know how important the wet stuff is in your daily life, so we work efficiently, safely, and professionally. When you have a plumbing problem – big or small – Contact Meticulous Plumbing.
