When you see yellowish tap water, you may be concerned about the safety of the water to drink and want to fix the problem. Often times, yellowed water is harmless and easy to handle. Finding out if the yellowing of the water is due to the negligence of the water service provider or due to the plumbing in the house is the first step that must be taken. Once you've found the source of the problem, hire a professional to help you decide on the best treatment option.
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Method 1 of 3: Finding the Source of the Problem
Step 1. Don't use tap water until you figure out the problem
Even if water discoloration is usually harmless, the safest option is to stop drinking until you know the source of the problem. Until you're sure you've found the source of the problem, drink bottled water and don't cook or wash with tap water.
Step 2. Turn on the sink faucet for a few minutes to see if the water turns clear
If the water appears clear after a few minutes, the problem may be with your plumbing system. You will need to contact a plumber to find the source of the problem. However, if the water continues to turn yellow, the problem may be in the public water line.
If the water turns clear, you should still not drink, cook, or wash with it until you know the source of the problem
Step 3. Ask the neighbors if they are having the same problem
This method can help you evaluate the scale of the problem. If your neighbors are also experiencing discoloration of their tap water, this issue may not only be present in your home. However, if the neighbour's tap water is still clear, you will need to call a plumber to have it checked.
To determine the severity of water discoloration, you can ask neighbors whose homes are some distance away or people in other areas close to your place
Step 4. Contact the water supply company to inquire about a citywide problem
If water discoloration is not unique to your home, it could be due to pipe sediment in the main water line. Call your water provider to ask why and determine if you should continue drinking bottled water until the problem is resolved.
Ask if the water supply company changes the water source as this can cause the water to turn yellow
Step 5. Check if you live near a swamp
If you recently moved to a new house and the water there is yellow, the discoloration may not be dangerous if you live in an area near a swamp. As the water moves through the peat and is filtered, it will turn slightly yellow in color. Although unsightly, the yellow water that comes from the swamp is harmless.
In the United States, this condition usually occurs in the Southeast, Northwest, New England, and Great Lakes regions
Step 6. Distinguish between yellowish and greenish colored water
While yellowish water is usually safe to drink, greenish or bluish-green water generally indicates that the copper coating on the pipes in your home is corroding. Call a plumber as soon as possible and drink bottled water until you can find and fix the source of the problem.
Drinking water that is exposed to copper corrosion can cause vomiting and gastrointestinal problems
Method 2 of 3: Filtering the Water
Step 1. Try to filter the water if the problem is not confined to your home
If you live near a swamp or your city is having problems with sediment in your drains, you may need to filter the tap water. Contact the water supply company to make sure the water is safe to drink. If the water is still safe to drink and you want to get rid of the discoloration, a filtration system can help you purify the water.
You can buy a water filter system at almost any home supply store
Step 2. Seek professional opinion to find the best water filtration system that suits your needs
Consulting a plumber or water quality specialist can help you find a system that is easy to install and can eliminate the source of the discoloration. Before purchasing a system, seek the opinion of one or more professionals.
Step 3. Install a water filter if you are concerned about sediment in the water
Most water filters are designed to remove sediment, dust, and certain types of bacteria from the water. However, these tools generally cannot get rid of viruses. If you know that the source of the problem is rust or mildew sediment, a water filter may be able to solve the problem.
A water filter with a charcoal element in the cartridge can eliminate the bad taste if your tap water has this problem
Step 4. Choose a water purifier to sterilize the water
Water purifiers use UV lamps or chemicals to remove pathogens, viruses, sediment, or dust normally found in water. However, water purifiers have a drawback, namely that they leave an unpleasant taste or smell in the water.
If your main concern with water discoloration is its taste or aroma, you may need to choose a different filtration system
Method 3 of 3: Replacing Rusty Plumbing
Step 1. Don't try to replace a rusty drain if you have no experience
Repairing or removing corroded plumbing is usually too dangerous for an amateur plumber. If you are not a professional plumber or have experience repairing internal plumbing, do not attempt this work yourself.
- Repairing corroded plumbing yourself can cause serious injury to yourself, as well as damage your home.
- While fixing corroded plumbing yourself can save you money, you could actually make the problem worse and end up paying more in the long run.
Step 2. Contact a professional plumber to find out the cause of water discoloration
A plumber can look for problems with your home's internal plumbing and determine how best to fix them. If you know that the water discoloration is not caused by the city drains, contact a plumber.
When looking for a plumber online, check his service reviews. Avoid service providers that have negative reviews because a bad plumber can actually make damage to your home worse
Step 3. Ask the opinion of several plumbers to find the best solution
Call at least 2 or 3 plumbers for an in-house inspection before choosing a solution. You will get a broader perspective of the problem that causes water discoloration, as well as determine the most efficient way to deal with it.
The cheapest option is not necessarily the best for plumbing repair. Choose a plumber who is most experienced and gets positive references or reviews from his past clients
Step 4. Read the home purchase warranty to find out if the plumbing issues are covered
Depending on the cause and how it was repaired, corroded or corroded plumbing may be covered under warranty. Call the insurance company once you've found the source of the problem to find out how much the repair costs will be reimbursed.
