What Are These Black Specks in My Water?
It is usually distressing to discover that the water supply in your home suddenly has black specks. So many questions arise, such as whether those specks are harmful, what their source is and what you can do to get rid of them. If you have been asking yourself, “What are these black specks in my water?” read on and learn the possible causes and what you can do to get rid of the specks.
Silt or Sand in Your Water Line
People who use water from a private well may observe tiny black specks in their water. The specks may also look brownish. These are usually particles of sand or silt that make their way to the faucets. There are three common reasons why these specks will appear in the water.
First, the well may be new, so the likelihood that water with particles will be pumped out is high. In such a case, it is common for the particles to stop appearing in the water if the well is pumped for several days in order to get rid of these contaminants.
Secondly, the well may not have a screen, or the existing one is worn. In this case, replacing the old screen or installing one will resolve the matter. Thirdly, it can also be helpful to install a well liner if your well was dug in sandstone. Whatever the root cause may be, Tureks Plumbing Services recommends swift action before your well pump is damaged extensively by those particles.
Mineral Deposits in Your Water Line
If you are asking about “black specks in my water”, another area to investigate is the possibility that mineral particles have precipitated in the water. The two key suspects in this regard are iron and manganese particles. While harmless, the particles can stain your clothes and dishes. The water pipes may also be affected if they are made from a material that can react with those minerals. Contact the utility company if you notice the water throughout your home shows the presence of these black particles.
Rust Particles in Your Water Line
Rust is usually orange or brown, but in some cases it can look black. These particles of rust is normally a localized problem, so you should suspect that some of the water pipes on your property are rusting if the black specks stop appearing after you have let the water run for a few minutes.
Contact a plumber in Appleton, WI, so that the affected pipes can be identified and replaced before a major leak develops. Refer the matter to the utility company in case all points of use are affected. Such a scenario points to a problem with the water mains, and that isn’t your responsibility to fix.
Disintegrating Rubber in Your Plumbing System
Don’t be quick to condemn the water supplier in case the black specks in your water are accompanied by traces of an oily substance. This is a clear indicator that a rubber fixture is breaking down somewhere in your plumbing system. The first place to look in this case is the hose connecting the water heater to an inlet line. Chloramine or chlorine in the water reacts with the rubber and gradually corrodes it, hence the black specks in your water. Contact Tureks Plumbing Services for a replacement hose that has a lining that protects it from the disinfectants added to the municipal water supply.
GAC in Your Filtration System
GAC, or granulated activated carbon, is a substance that is commonly used as a filter medium in the filtration systems installed by homeowners. You can suspect that these are the culprits when you see black specks in your water and you have a water filtration system in your home. If that is the case, you may not need to spend money on a plumbing repair call. Just check the manual of the filtration system or get in touch with the manufacturer for advice on how you can replace the filtration cartridge since the escaping particles show that the cartridge is defective or worn.
Now you know the possible answers to the question, “What are these black specks in my water?” Contact a Fox Valley plumber, such as one from Tureks Plumbing Services, and you will get professional help in dealing with those esthetically unpleasant specks in your water.