Why Does Black Water Come Out of Faucet?

When it comes to plumbing problems, you can experience them in many ways. Whatever the plumbing problem is, you may need to fix that as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may face devastating consequences.

One of the common problems you may encounter is a burst of black water coming out of your faucet. In that situation, you might ask yourself why black water comes out of the faucet. There can be a couple of reasons.

In this article, I will discuss this phenomenon and what should you do as a counter. Want to know more? Read on!

Why Does Black Water Come Out of Faucet? (Main Reasons)

Many people already experienced this problem. Several reasons may play a role in creating this bursting black water issue in your faucet.

However, 4 common causes of black water are mentioned below.

• Magnesium
• Defective water softener
• Old piping
• Heater rubber hose
• Construction work

Below I will discuss each of the causes for your better understanding.

Magnesium In Your Tap Water:

In your tap water, there can be different types of chemical components. For example, some chemicals are used to treat the water. No doubt, those components are not quite beneficial for your health.

However, in most cases, they are found in very small quantities. You can get rid of that small amount of chemicals by using your water-purifying filter. But, there can be a lot of minerals in the water.

The mineral-rich water is also known as hard water. One of the mineral components available in the water supply is magnesium. There is no denying the fact that this mineral element of the water is quite beneficial for health.

Typically, magnesium is mixed with the water supply in a very small quantity. As a result, you will not be able to see it with the naked eye. Nonetheless, it can turn the water black.

If you see a burst of black water coming from your water faucet, you can easily assume that the magnesium could be the main culprit.

The color of the magnesium is by no means black. However, it usually turns black when mixed with Oxygen. If your water contains an excessive amount of oxygen, the magnesium may mix with that only to make the water black.

If the burst of black water is caused by magnesium, the water is not so harmful to you. But, Needless to say, no one would like to see disgusting blackish water coming from the faucet.

Defective Water Softener:

When it comes to improving the overall water quality of your tap water, water softener plays a very important role. When you apply it properly, it will remove the limescale from the faucet and the internal tubing.

The overall useful life of your appliances will be improved as well. Also, with better water quality, your hair and skin quality will improve as well. But, do you replace the water softener at the right moment? As an appliance, the softener comes with a lifespan.

So, from time to time, you should repair or replace it if needed. If for any reason, the water softener breaks, you might notice a burst of black water coming from the faucet. People generally use a water softener for several reasons.

One of the main reasons for using a water softener is to reduce the overall hardness of the water. However, many people also use a water softener to reduce the black water burst due to magnesium.

In that case, if the softener is destroyed, the magnesium will be back soon. So, you must replace the water softener as soon as possible.

Old Piping:

If you live in a comparatively old house, the piping in the water supply system is also quite old. This could be another reason for black water bursting from the faucet. In that case, you will need to replace the old piping to solve the issue.

Especially, if your house is equipped with galvanized or steel piping, this problem may occur more frequently. Because these types of pipes lose their efficiency faster than other available options. As a result, they can be affected by rust.

And, when small rust flakes go into the water, they gradually it will become dark or black. Besides, the chance is these rust flakes mix with the magnesium to ultimately make the situation worse and create a black water burst from your faucet.

Heater Rubber Hose:

Another reason for the black water can be the flex from your water heater. If your water heater is made of inferior-quality materials, this problem may occur.

Many water heaters use rubber hoses. One problem with rubber is it deteriorates over time. That is why you may encounter this problem.

Construction Works In Your Locality:

Sometimes you may feel that the water supply in your house is shut down. After a certain period, you may regain the water supply. It can happen due to construction work in your locality.

It happens when the local authority ensures water shut down in your area for the safety of the construction workers. But the problem is sometimes some residue of the construction work may enter into your water supply system.

If it happens, you may experience black water burst from your faucet.

Ways To Fix This Black Water Issue

Needless to say, the blackish water bursting from the faucet is quite frustrating and disgusting as well. So, you should try to fix the issue as soon as possible. First of all, you need to identify the cause of the problem.

Use a good quality water testing kit for this. If the main reason is magnesium, you should use a water softener to solve the issue. No doubt, you will get some other benefits from the water softener as a bonus.

As I mentioned above, magnesium is not quite harmful to your health, you can use a water filter too. But, it will not be quite effective. Now, if a defective water softener is the main cause, you should go for a replacement. If you replace the softener, hopefully, the black water problem will be resolved.

On the other hand, when old piping is the main cause of the black water, you should fix the piping. To be honest, it is not a simple DIY project. When it comes to fixing the old piping, you should consult with a plumber.

If construction work creates the black water issue, the problem will be resolved automatically within 1 or 2 days. However, you should stop drinking water from that tap during that period.

Wrapping Up!

Water is one of the most essential elements of our life. No one can survive without water. But, when you see black water from the faucet, it is quite frustrating. Why does black water come out of the faucet?

In this article, I tried to explain the major reasons that may create this problem. I also showed some effective ways to fix the issue. I hope it was helpful and now you know what you have to do if you even encounter this black water situation.