When people find the water of their Sterling home to be
discolored, the natural reaction is to panic. Thinking that the problem may be the
result of a chemical spill or other natural disaster, they often think
they won’t be able to use their water for days or weeks. However,
that is rarely the case.
Most of the time, discolored water can be easily explained and repairs
made to solve the problem. To make sure you don’t feel the need to
panic if your water turns a strange color, here are some reasons for the
color changes and what types of repairs will be necessary.
Pink Water
Yes, water can actually turn pink in some instances. When it does, it usually
means the water has a high concentration of minerals such as iron or magnesium.
A very common problem for people who rely on wells for their water, this
problem can be rectified rather easily.
A Sterling plumber can test the water to see what minerals are most prevalent,
and then add water softeners as well as other chemicals to even out the
amounts of minerals. If this doesn’t solve the problem, water filters
can be added to faucets as extra protection.
Bluish-Green Water
When water in a home starts turning shades of bluish-green, it can spell
trouble. This color usually indicates metals such as copper or brass are
contaminating the water by seeping from plumbing fittings, which can essentially
poison the water and leave it useless until repairs are made.
Only a licensed plumber with experience in this area should make these
repairs, since it does present a health hazard to all who rely on that
water. Once repairs are made, the water should be tested to make sure
all traces of these metals have disappeared.
Reddish-Brown Water
If your water starts to take on a reddish-brown color, you’ve probably
got hard water that can be difficult to get rid of despite your best efforts.
This color can produce water that stains almost anything it touches, especially
the sinks and tubs where it runs over and over again.
The stains, because they are so hard to get rid of, make this problem one
that most people want to see go away quickly. In these cases, plumbers
usually add strong chemicals to the water to break up the iron content,
then install filters on faucets in an attempt to keep the excessive iron
levels away.
If your water is discolored in your Sterling, VA home, call Cardinal Plumbing, Heating
& Air Inc. at 703-721-8888 today, and we’ll solve the problem for you!