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Owning your own home is a source of pride for most people, but once you own a home, you are responsible for any issues that may arise. That includes your plumbing, and plumbing problems come in all shapes, sizes, smells, and colors.
It is never a pleasant situation when you surprisingly see brown water coming from your sink, or notice a horrible smell coming from your pipes. You never want to feel like your home’s water is dirty, but when you do start noticing discoloration or bad smells, it’s important to get to the bottom of the cause as quickly as possible.
There are many different sources to a bad smell or ugly looking water, but there are some common places to start when trying to diagnose your specific problem.
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Why is the Water Discolored?
You never want to turn on your faucet to see dark water streaming out at you. That’s not a great recipe for starting off your morning teeth brushing session well. When you see the color of your water change, it is important to note if the change was gradual, or if it happened all at once. As well as how long the color change stays while running the water.
If your water suddenly changed from clear to brown, then that may indicate some sort of contamination or changes in mineral concentration. If all of a sudden your water is no longer clear, a major culprit is that there was a change in the filtration of the water supply to your home. Most often, there has been an increase in iron and manganese in the water itself that has led to the sudden change in color. If you run your water for a while and the color doesn’t go back to clear then the problem may be something else.
Sustained colored water can be caused from corroding water lines. This issue is much larger, and can result in some plumbing replacement. If you are noticing a sustained issue, then it is important to have a plumber come out and look at your pipes. If a plumber indicates that the problem isn’t with the pipes in your own home, you may need to check with the city on if there are any segments that need repairs.
The issue can also sometimes be diagnosed based on the color the water has changed. Yellow water typically means that the iron in your water is higher than normal and that it has been exposed to rust. Brown water can be tied to problems with a well or contaminants your water supply.
If you are experiencing discolored water, you should assume that you shouldn’t drink it until you understand the cause. Most of the time the issue won’t cause known health issues, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
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Smelly Water
Water should smell essentially like nothing, so if your home’s water is starting to have a specific smell to it, it may be time to evaluate if your water is actually clean or not. If you start to notice a bad smell to your water, you will probably be worried about how safe it is to use. There are many different things that can cause smelly water, some of which are highly concerning for your health. It is important to pay attention to how your water smells, so that you can get to the source of the problem.
If your water smells like sewage, then it could just be caused by leftover food and bacteria in your drain. This can be resolved through a good cleaning of your drain and disposal. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, and you are noticing the smell outside of just your kitchen, it could also be that your water heater has been unused for too long, and it may just need servicing.
The smell of rotten eggs is never enjoyable, but especially when it is coming from your faucets. A lot of people associate this smell with the smell of sulfur. Sulfur could actually be present in your water, leading to trapped gas in your plumbing system. Sulfur won’t hurt you, but it does promote the growth of bacteria that could be a health problem eventually.
If a musty smell is coming from your water, then the smell may be caused by organics polluting your water. You will most likely need to sanitize your whole plumbing system to resolve the issue, which is a lengthy process.
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Finally, if your water is smelling like fish then bacteria is probably the cause. You will need to contact your water provider to see if there is an issue with the city water supply. If it is not the water supply, then you will need to get an expert out to take a look at the way your plumbing is set up, and if proper drainage is present.
Discolored and smelly water is never a good situation, and neither are something that will make you feel comfortable in your own home. If you are facing this in your house, then you will want to consult an expert to understand the cause. Premier Plumbing is always happy to consult you on your plumbing needs and concerns.
Metro-Detroit Plumbing Problems Hotline:
Location: White Lake, Michigan
Phone: (248) 363-5864
Location: Hartland, Michigan
Phone: (810) 632-7420
Location: Fowlerville, Michigan
Phone: (517) 223-4360
Email: [email protected]
Request a FREE repair quote with Premier Plumbing, Inc. online at premierplumbing-mi.com/get-a-plumbing-quote/