I've been replacing the toilets in my house, and since we're also changing the valves connected to the wall, we've had to turn off the main water supply several times. Every time we turn it back on, brown water comes out of the taps for a few seconds. My boyfriend says it's common, but I'm worried that this might mean the water is contaminated. Is it typical to see brown water in situations like this?
3 Answers
It’s actually pretty normal! When you shut the main water and then turn it back on, the full flow can disturb any sediment that’s settled in the pipes. So, you’re just flushing out the gunk that builds up over time. Just let it run for a minute until it clears up, and you should be good to go!
Not a plumber here, but I’ve seen this happen often. It’s just sediment being stirred up when you start the water flow again. It’s not ideal, but it’s usually nothing to stress about as long as it clears up quickly!
Thanks!
Yeah, it’s pretty typical after turning the water main back on. Just let the taps run for a minute or two to get rid of all the sediment. Make sure to flush the toilets and even run a cycle on the washing machine, just to clear everything out. You don’t want any buildup in there!
Is it necessary to run all the taps or would just running the kitchen tap be enough?
Thanks! Glad it's not something I have to worry about!