Let’s be real, you don’t want to wash your face, take a shower, or drink water that looks like it came straight from the sewers. It’s supposed to be clear, no matter what, and if it looks dirty, then that can really set you off. So if you are also worried about why your water is coming out grey, this guide is here to help you fix that.
Why Do I Have Grey Water?
There can be a lot of reasons for grey water in your taps, and the first step to get a solution for this problem is to find out the reason for it.
Air Bubbles in the Water
One of the most common reasons water comes out gray is air bubbles. When air gets trapped in the pipes, it mixes into the water. The bubbles are so tiny that they spread through the flow, which gives the whole stream a cloudy or gray look. If you leave a glass of that water sitting on the counter, you’ll notice the bubbles rise to the top and the water clears up after a minute. That shows you it’s not dirt or anything harmful, and it’s just air inside the line.
Hard Water
Hard water is another reason your water can look gray. When the supply has too much calcium, magnesium, or even iron, those minerals don’t always dissolve in a way that disappears. Instead, they float through the water and scatter the light, so the stream looks cloudy. One justifiable reason for that is that you have hard water.
You’ve already seen proof of this in other places. On your drinking glasses, hard water leaves cloudy white spots after the water dries. On your shower door, it shows up as streaks that don’t wipe away easily. Around your faucets, it builds up as a chalky white crust near the spout. Those same minerals that leave stains on glass and faucets are also what make the water itself look gray when it’s running.
Sediment and Corrosion in the Pipes
One big reason is what’s happening inside the pipes themselves. Here, two things can take place.
First, outside material like dirt, sand, or rust can slip into the line through small plumbing leaks or after street work has disturbed the supply. Once it gets inside, that material often settles in the pipes while the water isn’t running. The moment you turn on a faucet after hours of sitting, the rush of water sweeps that buildup forward, and you see gray or cloudy water because of all those fine bits moving through the stream.
Second, the pipes themselves can start to wear down. Old metal pipes rust from the inside out, and as they corrode, flakes of rust and worn metal break loose. Unlike sediment from leaks or outside disturbances, this is the pipe itself breaking apart. When those flakes mix into your water, they can give it a dull gray look at first. As the corrosion gets worse, the color can even shift toward rusty red or brown.
Sediments in Water Heater
Your water heater isn’t just a tank that holds hot water. It’s also an ideal place where minerals and debris settle with time. Every time water sits in the tank, calcium, magnesium, or little bits of rust slowly sink down and form a layer at the bottom, which doesn’t just vanish, and keeps on building whenever you use the heater.
Now, when you open a faucet for hot water, the flow doesn’t just pass calmly over that settled layer. The rush of hot water stirs the bottom of the tank like a spoon stirring a pot. Once it’s stirred up, small pieces of that buildup get carried along with the water as it leaves the tank. By the time the stream comes out of your faucet or shower head, it starts to look grey because of all those fine particles mixed in.
You usually see gray water more when you run hot water compared to cold water. That’s because the cold water comes straight from the main line, but hot water passes through the tank and picks up what’s sitting inside.
Is Grey Tap Water Safe to Drink?
If the grey water is just air bubbles, then yes, that’s safe to drink. The bubbles give it that cloudy or gray look, but once they rise out, the water clears up, and it’s fine.
If it’s hard water minerals, that’s also not really harmful. You might hate the taste or notice spots on your glasses, but drinking it won’t make you sick.
Now, if it’s sediment or corrosion from old pipes, that’s where it gets tricky. Small bits of rust or dirt usually won’t poison you, but they can mess with the taste and, with time, aren’t good for your plumbing or your health if the pipes are really breaking down.
If the gray water is due to a leak letting in outside material, then you’ve got to be more careful. Dirt, sand, or other contaminants slipping in through cracks is not safe because you don’t know what’s in that mix.
So, in simple words, gray water from air or minerals is usually fine. Gray water from rust, sediment, or leaks isn’t something you should trust.
How Do I Get Rid of Grey Water?.
Let Your Water Run
If air bubbles are the problem, the fix is simple. Run the faucet for a couple of minutes and let the water settle. The trapped air clears itself as the bubbles rise out. If the issue is with the plumbing of the whole house, turn off the main valve, drain all faucets, and then reopen the valve slowly so the pipes refill without trapping new air.
Install a Water Softener
For hard water, the best DIY move is using a water filter or softener for your drinking tap water. Pitcher-style filters or faucet-mounted filters are excellent choices here for soft water.
Fix Sediment and Corrosion in the Pipes
If the gray water comes from sediment or corrosion, start by flushing your pipes. To do this, run the tap for a few minutes to push out loose material. For older pipes shedding rust, clean faucet aerators and shower heads regularly to be clear. You can also install small point-of-use filters under sinks to trap these particles.
If you suspect leaks, check the pipes and joints that are visible and patch the minor leaks with plumbing tape or a clamp.
Flush Out Your Water Heater
If your water heater is dirty and there is a layer of sediment inside, then it’s time to flush it out. It might sound tiring, but to be honest, it’s not that difficult to flush out your water heater once you get the hang of it.
When to Call a Plumber for Inspection?
There might be leaks in the hidden plumbing you just can’t access, or the pipes themselves are at the end of their life. In either of these cases, you can’t get rid of gray water by yourself. So, it is better to leave this problem to professionals.
California Coast Plumbers have years of experience under their belt. If your tap water looks grey or unusual, then just dial their number, and an expert plumber will be happy to help you.