Whenever you turn on your faucet, you naturally expect clean, clear water to come out. But unfortunately that’s not always the case. Water can sometimes be discolored, have sediment or just plain not look right.
Depending on the root cause of the issue, you might have a problem with your plumbing that needs to be addressed. You might need a water filter. You might need a water softener. Or your water clarity problem might not cause any type of health hazard, but still look unappealing.
If you have water coming out of the tap that's looking cloudy, is that a warning sign that you could potentially have a problem with your plumbing in Springfield Missouri?
What Causes Cloudy Water?
Let's start off by explaining what we mean by the term "cloudy water". It's water that has a bit of a milky hue.
This happen because there is more oxygen than normal in your water. As water travels through your plumbing pipes, it can be exposed to air due to changes in water pressure, which creates extra bubbles of oxygen.
This added oxygen is what gives the water its cloudy appearance. Once it comes out of the tap and settles, the extra oxygen and cloudiness will dissipate, leaving the water looking clear and normal.
Is Cloudy Water Dangerous?
No. A little extra oxygen in your water isn’t going to hurt you like a sediment or chemical might. It’s perfectly safe to drink, even though it may initially not be pleasant to look at.
How Can I Prevent Cloudy Water?
Since oxygen is what makes your water cloudy, you'll need to determine how, where and why the extra oxygen is getting in your water. If it's a temporary problem, it's nothing to be concerned about. It could just be a temporary change to your water pressure.
If this is a problem that you have for all the water in your home as well as other homes in your neighborhood, then your water may be undergoing pressure changes and turning cloudy as it travels from the main municipal water line to your home, making it a problem they'd need to fix on their end.
If the cloudy water is limited to your home, or even just one tap, try removing the aerator in the faucet and giving it a good cleaning to see if that clears up the issue.
If the cloudy water appears to be a problem localized to your home and things don’t seem to be improving, then it's probably time to contact a plumber you can trust to come out and take a look at your plumbing.
You can always count on United Plumbing to figure out the source of your plumbing problems and give you an honest recommendation for what we'd do if it were our home. Give us a call today for any of your plumbing needs.