There’s nothing like a fresh glass of water. That’s why when tiny black specks appear. It can be extremely off-putting. So what exactly are these black specks, and is it safe to drink water with the black specks? Before you take one more sip of water with black specks, here’s everything you need to know about it and what can be done to help fix the black specks in water.
So What Are The Black Specks in Water?
When you hold up a glass of water and see black specks in water, you might assume it is some kind of dirt. Perhaps dirt got into the pipes somehow along the way and now it needs to be cleaned? Not exactly. Instead, black specks in the water typically mean you have corroded pipes, or at the very least, a corroded member of your home’s plumbing system, and it is not leaching this corrosion into the water. That’s a problem.
Everyone at some point in time has probably got some dirt in the mouth before. It’s not the greatest taste, but there’s nothing dangerous about it. A corroded pipe, though, that’s something completely different. It isn’t something you want to deal with, and it isn’t water you want to drink. It also means if you have something that is corroded, it may end up leaking water into the house or your property, which will cause further problems. Due to this, it is essential to bring in a plumber right away to correct your home’s water supply.
Is It Just Corroded Pipes?
Usually, this comes from a corroded pipe somewhere within your property line. However, there are a handful of other issues. It might come from a corroded water heater or even issues with a seal or rubber washer somewhere along the way. This is almost never dirt that has found its way into the water. If you only see the black specks once it may be the case, but in any other situation, if you routinely see black specks, it means there is a corrosion problem somewhere, and you need to address it.
The Kind Of Plumbing You’re Using
The kind of plumbing your home uses will play a big role in whether your pipes have become corroded or not. If you have updated plumbing, it probably is mostly made up of PVC pipes. It might also have copper piping as well. Neither of these kinds of pipes will have any issues (PVC will be better at avoiding corrosion). However, if you live in an older home, it is possible your property still uses cast iron pipes. Over time the cast iron can begin to break down, which means tiny flecks of the cast iron might start to flake away into your water.
Cast iron pipes are excellent when it comes to maintaining your home’s water pressure, and for being able to withstand just about any size flush or anything else that is pushed down the drain without bursting, it isn’t always great when it comes to delivering water into your home. Over time, acidity in the water (which usually comes from some kind of treatment center), will cause the iron pipes to break down.
Looking For The Problem
But what happens if you have PVC or copper plumbing? You’ll want to consider the different elements and appliances the water runs through prior to coming out of your faucet. Look at your water heater. How old is it? If you have an older water heater, it might be a sign that you need a new one. It might also indicate an anode rod is starting to break down as well. If there are other elements within your home’s water supply, it can be a sign of this starting to fail as well. So, if you have the updated plumbing installed, it may end up being one of these areas of your home’s plumbing network.
Hard Water
Do you have hard water in your home? If you do suffer from hard water, it is possible the problem is actually some of the mineral buildups within the pipes have just started to break down and are now flowing out of the plumbing. In these instances, it may be possible for the buildup to flush itself out after a short period of time. So if you noticed black specks but, for the most part, it’s all gone, this might have been the case. You should also consider investing in a full-house water softener to help prevent this problem from creeping up again.
Help Identifying The Problem
Ultimately it can be a challenge to identify the culprit of your black flecks without any kind of professional help. The key to determining what is causing the black specks is to know what the black specks actually are. An experienced plumber will be able to determine this often via an eyeball test, although there are some other basic tests they can perform. This way, they’ll know if it is a rubber that’s breaking down from a seal or whether it is some kind of mineral flaking off into your home’s water supply. This will point them in the direction of finding the source for your black specks. Once the black specks are identified, you can then go about having the situation corrected. This way, you’ll be back to enjoying fresh and clean water inside your home. You just need to make one call to your local plumber.
Fix Your Black Spec Problem
If you do have black specks, you’ll need to consider bringing in a local plumber in Charlotte. They can help you get to the bottom of the situation. They are also able to help correct other plumbing issues you might be having at the same time. Plumbing issues are not anything you should take for granted. Even the smallest problem can turn into a major situation, which may end up costing you thousands of dollars if you fail to correct it and just put it off. So, instead of putting it off, now is the time to contact your local Charlotte plumber.
