cloudy tap water causes

Cloudy Tap Water Causes and Remedies, Part 1

Water quality is always an important consideration for homeowners, particularly the quality of taps and drinking water sources. There are a few potential signs that your tap water could be experiencing quality issues, and one of the most interesting such signs is the presence of a cloudy hue in your water.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, our plumbers offer several excellent water quality-related services, including reverse osmosis water filtration systems to purify tap water for any home. Is your tap experiencing cloudy water issues that you’re unsure the meaning of? This is understandable – cloudy tap water can actually mean a few different things, some a problem and others not at all. This two-part blog will serve as your cloudy water primer, informing you of all the potential causes of this issue and what to do to remedy it.

Pressure and Air

By far the most common reason for cloudiness in drinking water is also the least harmful: The water is actually filled with small bubbles of oxygen due to air pressure from the tap. These form because while still inside the faucet pipe, the water is being exposed to air and becoming pressurized.

Almost everyone has seen what happens next: The water comes out of the tap looking somewhat carbonated, with air bubbles and possibly a cloudy appearance as a result. However, these bubbles dissipate within a few seconds and turn the water back to completely clear – this is a sign that the oxygen has risen to the top.

Repeated Air Issues

Now, while the issue we described above is generally harmless, it can be annoying if it’s a constant thing – especially if bubbles take a while to fizz out. It may also indicate problems in your pipe system. In such cases, you may want to contact your local water department to see if there are significant air issues within the water supply pipes that they can remedy. In other cases, our plumbers can assist you with air or related issues in your faucet supply pipes.

Sediment Concerns

Sadly, there are a few situations where cloudy water – especially cloudy water that doesn’t clear up within a few seconds – is signaling a more significant issue. The most common of these is the presence of sediment in your water, which will make it look some combination of cloudy and simply dirty. Sediment is often harmful to drinkers on its own, plus tends to lead to toxins, bacteria and other concerns.

Luckily, there are simple solutions here. A water filtration system will easily remove sediment from your drinking water; our plumbers will be happy to test your water and recommend the ideal filter.

For more on how to deal with cloudy tap water, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.