Why Is Dirty Water Coming Out of My Faucets?

Murky or rust-colored water pouring out of your faucets can be an alarming sight. After all, the last thing anyone wants is a major plumbing issue. The good news is that while dirty water sometimes points to a problem with your pipes or water heater, it doesn’t always mean there’s an issue you need to resolve.

4 Reasons Why You Suddenly Have Dirty Water

The four most common reasons why water becomes dirty in homes are municipal plumbing maintenance, a broken water line, old galvanized steel pipes, and corrosion in the water heater. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Municipal Plumbing Maintenance

Your town’s local plumbing system needs periodic maintenance. During the maintenance, the city water lines experience a lot of big changes in water pressure.

Those changes can dislodge and shake up particles (like rust and sediment) that have settled into the water pipe walls over time. Consequently, when you turn on your faucet, you might notice it “spitting” out dirty water before eventually regaining a normal water flow and clear, clean appearance.

This problem is unsettling and inconvenient, but on the bright side, it should go away on its own within a few hours. While no plumbing repairs are necessary, you may want to consider upgrading your home with a water filtration system, just to be sure that you aren’t drinking any unwanted particles.

2. Broken Water Line

Your main water line lets water travel from the city’s water lines to your home. While sturdy, water lines can eventually leak or break due to circumstances such as:

• Old age
• Underground movements
• Invasive or uprooted tree roots
• Human error during digging and excavation

The earth around your pipes can also shift and move due to moisture and temperature changes during extreme weather, allowing the pipes to sag and eventually leak.

When a water line breaks, dirt enters the pipe, resulting in a murky, unsafe water supply to your home. If fertilizer and animal droppings are in your soil, those things will enter your water supply as well. If you suspect your home has a broken water line, it’s important to involve a plumber as quickly as possible.

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3. Old Galvanized Steel Pipes

Many homes built before the 1960s had galvanized steel pipes. By now, most of those pipes have lost the zinc coating that protected them from corroding, so, unfortunately, many galvanized steel pipes have a lot of rust in them.

When the rust problem gets bad enough, little flakes will enter your home’s water supply and give it an orange or red hue. The best solution is to replace your pipes with a new material that’s less prone to corrosion.

4. Corrosion in the Water Heater

The biggest clue that this is your problem is that only your hot water is dirty. Your tank water heater has a sacrificial anode rod to prevent rust inside the tank. However, if the rod isn’t replaced before it wears out (every three to five years), your water heater can begin to rust, and that rust can enter your water supply.

Our Plumbing Services

Stuart Services offers multiple plumbing services in and around New Orleans. Since 1956, Stuart Services has provided expert plumbing solutions. Check out our comprehensive plumbing services today — we can help get your water cleaner.

At Stuart Services, our New Orleans plumbers are dedicated to helping you find a quality solution to your home’s plumbing problems. Contact us online to ask about special offers and financing.

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