It is perfectly normal for you to be shocked to see your water take on a red or yellow tint. Fortunately, it is also a fairly normal situation that is not as dangerous as it is frightening and drinking that water is not necessarily a serious health hazard. Granted, it can be a sign of a weakening plumbing system that should be addressed. So, why is your tap water or bathwater yellow? Mr. Rooter Plumbing has years of experience dealing with yellow tap water and is happy to share some information with our community.
What Causes Yellow Bathwater?
There are many minerals and some contaminants found in tap water. In fact, you might witness these minerals in the form of white chalky material on your sinks and dishes. Yellow water happens in a similar way except this water is usually caused during the water’s delivery through the pipes. Over time, iron and oxygen react to form rust in your pipes. Water moving through these pipes toward your faucets will take on the rust’s orange and yellow colors, leaving you with yellow tinted water.
Is It Unsafe?
You are not alone if you are turned off by the water being yellow. In fact, you would be forgiven to think that the water could poison you. Luckily, the yellow tap water is usually safe and can be used just as regular water would be used. However, let’s be honest: no one wants to bathe in a tub of yellow water. If the color of your water is bothering you, then there are some steps that you can take.
How Do I Fix It?
Though yellow tap water is harmless for the most part, you might be uncomfortable with the unusual color. Fortunately, there are ways to fix this issue.
For beginners, a water filter may help remove the color and other impurities of your tap water. Markets have filters that can be attached to each faucet and there are also whole-house water filters if water is coming out yellow in all of your faucets.
To get to the root of the issue, we recommend calling the professional plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing to inspect your plumbing system and detect any pipes that have rusted. These pipes should be replaced as soon as possible because they are susceptible to decaying, leading to cracks, leaks, and burst pipes. It should be noted that most pipes used in cities were made of iron until about thirty years ago. Therefore, the root cause of your yellow water issue might be coming from the city-managed pipes.
Reach Out to The Professionals
It is always best to get a professional diagnosis of the issue. If you have questions or concerns about your tap water or plumbing system in general, then please feel free to call your local plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We are available around the clock and are happy to help our community. Give us a call now to speak with a friendly representative on standby.