Have you ever turned on your faucet and seen black water come out? This situation is common and may happen to anyone. The black particles or colored water from your tap can be shocking and disgusting. But don’t worry. In most cases, you can fix the black water coming out of faucet problem with some basic troubleshooting and repairs.
Seeing the black color of the water from your faucet is generally caused by the high amount of magnesium in the water. The dark color of the water comes out from tiny bits of metal, minerals, or other particles mixed into the water as it flows through your pipes.
Here in this guide, we will see why a burst of black water from the faucet and what you can do to get clean and fresh water. Let’s see solutions in the detail.
Why Burst of Black Water Coming out of Faucet?
Magnesium is the main cause of bursts of black water from the faucet but there are some other reasons also such as old rusted plumbing, sand and clay particles, and faulty water softener or filter. These things change the color of the water and turn it into black.
Magnesium
Almost in all home water supplies, magnesium is present. When the quantity of magnesium is within the limit, it won’t affect the quality and color of the water and it is good for health. But when it reaches beyond its limit, it will change the water color into black. Magnesium is reactive to oxygen. When it reacts with oxygen, it will change the water color.
Old Rusted Pipes
The next cause is old rusted pipes. Nowadays plumbing pipes are rust-proof so it’s rare you see any rust in your new plumbing system after a few years of installation. But if your home plumbing pipes are very old, the chances of rust on them are high because of their low-quality material.
Over time, the minerals in the water damage the protective layer of the pipes and starts rusting pipes. The rust particles then mix with the water and change their color to black. If you see black color in only one faucet, it is due to rust. Because rusted pipe will only affect the connected faucet, not the whole house plumbing system.
Sand and Clay Particles
In some cases, black water in faucets is caused by sand and clay particles. This situation will only rise when construction or repair work on the main water line in your area is running.
Sand and clay particles have settled in the pipes over the years. During the construction or repair work, the water flow is changed and it shakes loose materials and comes into your personal plumbing system when water service resumes. Contact the municipality water supply and ask them when the repair work will be completed.
Faulty Water Softener or Filter
Water softeners or filters are common in many houses where hard water is present. The filter uses carbon to clean the water and the water softener uses resin beads for the same purpose. A carbon filter or resin beads have their own life.
When their life is finished, they don’t clean the water properly and you need to change them. If you don’t change them, you will see the dirty color of the water. The color of the water may be brown, black, or anything other. The color will depend on the type of filter or softener.
Read also – Why Is Gray Water Coming out of Faucet?
How Do You Fix Black Water Coming Out of Faucets?
No one wants black water from their faucet. You want to fix it as soon as possible. Here are some tested fixes to clean black water and get clean water from the faucet.
Flushing The Pipes
Start with flushing the pipes of your house plumbing. If there is a minor quantity of black water in the plumbing system, it will come out through flushing the pipes. It will take only a few minutes and saves you money. Follow these steps to properly flush the pipes.
- Locate the main water shutoff valve and turn off the water supply to the home
- Beginning with the faucets closest to the water supply, turn on the cold water taps and let them run for several minutes
- Continue running each faucet one by one, letting them run for 5-10 minutes each
- The goal is to flush out any built-up sediment or mineral deposits that may be causing discoloration
- Once all faucets have been checked, turn the main valve back on and let cold water run its course
- Repeat the flushing procedure with hot water by running the hot taps first to purge deposits from the hot water heater
Reduce Magnesium In The Water
As you read in the cause, high levels of magnesium quantity in the water change its color to black. Magnesium is a natural mineral in the water but its high amount in the water is not good. A water softener is a good and permanent solution to control magnesium and other minerals in the water.
A water softener not only helps you to control minerals in the water but also it removes impurities from the water and keeps it clean and safe to drink.
In the water softener, the water passes through a tank containing ion exchange resin beads which attract and bind to the magnesium ions. The magnesium is replaced by sodium ions, resulting in softer water with lower magnesium content. If you can’t afford a water softener, you can use a faucet water filter. It will work the same as a water softener but it will work only for a single faucet.
Replace Old Rusted Pipes
When the plumbing of your house is rusted, with black water, you will see small rust particles will come out from the faucet. In this situation, you need to replace old rusted pipes. But replacing a particle pipe in your plumbing system is not an easy job. You need good knowledge of the plumbing for it or you should take the help of a plumber. The plumber will do the replacement work perfectly without damaging the home or faucet.
Repair The Water Softener
A water softener is clean water but it also requires maintenance. There are resin beads in the water softener. These resin beads reduce the mineral quantity and remove other impurities. With time, these resin beads become useless and don’t clean water.
With a faulty water softener, you won’t get clear and clean water. You need to replace its resin beads. Get the new resin beads and install them in place of the old ones.
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FAQs
Is Black Slime Coming From My Faucet Dangerous?
Black slime from faucets is very concerning and could be dangerous. It likely indicates bacteria like iron bacteria or sulfur bacteria growing in your pipes and plumbing system from a lack of disinfectant.
Why Does My Cold Water Look Black at First?
If your cold water starts out black when first turned on, this is likely due to old piping that has corroded and built up iron sediment. Letting the water run for a few minutes should clear the black color.
Is Black Faucet Water Safe To Use or Consume?
In most cases, black water is a sign of a plumbing issue. It’s best to avoid using or consuming it until the cause is identified and resolved.
Can Weather or Seasonal Changes Lead To Black Water In Faucets?
Yes, certain weather conditions can impact water quality and lead to discolored water due to changes in water sources or distribution systems.
Final Thoughts
If the black water is coming out of your faucet, you should start using solutions from this guide. No matter black water is bad for your health or not, you should not use it and clean it. The above solutions are DIY but if you can’t solve it by yourself, don’t hesitate to take the help of a plumber.
James Lewis is a seasoned plumber and faucet enthusiast who shares his expertise on Faucetsavvy.com. With over 15 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he’s passionate about helping homeowners find the perfect faucet for their needs. He’s also dedicated to empowering DIY enthusiasts with the plumbing knowledge and skills needed to repair and maintain their faucets.