If you’ve just installed a brand new water softener and experience yellow water then you must probably be thinking, Why is my water yellow after installing water softener?
Water is a natural solvent, when the water from your tap comes in contact with calcium and magnesium in your pipes or fittings it will leave behind sediment. This is why sometimes your water will look yellow after the installation of the water softener.
However, there’s a lot more to learn when it comes to water softeners and the changing color of the water. If you are interested then keep on reading because, in this article, you will find all the satisfactory answers to your questions.
Table of Contents
Does a Water Softener Change the Color of Water?
It usually does. The water softener dispenses sodium molecules into the incoming hard water in order to form a larger molecule that will increase the size of sediment particles and decrease the efficiency of your pipes.
The color of this new, softer water is different because it contains more minerals than pure water. A common complaint about water softeners is that it leaves the water with a yellow color.
How Does the Water Look After Installing a New Softener?
Water usually looks yellow because of the excess minerals and byproducts left behind in the softened water. However, this isn’t always the case because it depends on where you live and what type of water softener you own.
Some models leave no residue while others may have a hard time keeping up with the water flow.
Remember to read the owner’s manual if you are buying a new water softener. The manual will tell you how to install, maintain and use your new water softener.
Not all models are the same so it’s best to read up on your choices before making a purchase.
What Causes Water to Turn Yellow?
The primary reason for the water in your house to look yellow is that of the presence of excess calcium and magnesium deposits and sediments left behind by hard water coming into contact with concrete, iron, copper, and other metals. The resultant effect is a noticeable change in the color of your tap water.
How Do You Fix Yellow Water?
This is a tough question that many homeowners have been trying to figure out for years.
In most cases, the best option is to use a water filter system. The good thing about filtering systems is that they solve the problem of having yellow water and still provide you with plenty of healthy and tasty drinking water.
For this reason, many people begin to use a water filter system after noticing that their tap water is yellow.
Apart from the above information, there are some methods that can help you fix the yellow water at your home.
These methods are as follows:
1. Using an Anti-Yellowing Agent
The easiest way to fix the problem is to use products that contain anti-yellowing agents (also known as sequestrants). These products will bind with the minerals left behind by hard water and bring it back into solution, turning it back to clear water.
2. Using a Water Softener
This is probably the easiest and most common way of fixing yellow water. Buy yourself a water softener and install it in your home so you can get rid of hard water without changing the color of your tap water.
3. Letting It Sit
You could also let the water sit in an open container overnight. This allows the sediment to settle at the bottom.
4. Using a Water Filter System
Using a water filter system will solve the problem of having yellow water and provide you with healthy drinking water. It is important that you use a good quality filter system to remove sediment before it changes the color of your tap water or accumulates in your pipes and water heater.
Does Water Turn Yellow After Installation of a Water Softener?
Actually, to an extent, water softeners will help reduce or remove the yellowish tint from your tap water and also provide you with cleaner and better-tasting drinking water as well as improve overall water quality.
But if your water looks really yellow, after buying a new water softener then it might be time that you change some parts of your water softener.
Why Is My Water Heater Making the Tap Water Yellow?
Yellow water coming from your hot water faucet can also be caused by sediment buildups inside the glass-lined tank of your water heater, which is likely to cause rusty or discolored water.
However, yellow water coming from the hot water tap is not limited to your water heater only and can also be caused by other factors such as Iron bacteria growth due to low chlorine, the high pH level of the water, and low temperature.
You must clean your tank if you notice any of these problems because yellow staining on surrounding surfaces is a good indicator of this problem.
What are the Causes of Water to Look Cloudy?
Cloudy water is caused by the presence of air in waterlines after the installation of a new faucet or fixture. Typically, this problem arises if you flush the toilet or run the sink faucet shortly after the installation.
In this case, you must wait at least 12 to 24 hours before using any water from those fixtures because running water will displace the air in the lines. Later, when you use those faucets or fixtures, you will find that all is well and the water coming out of them runs nice and clear.
My Water is Cloudy, How Do I Fix This?
If your water looks cloudy then first you must check for any broken or leaking pipe under the sink or behind the toilet, because if water runs through those places it will find its way out through your faucets and make them appear cloudy.
But this should be fixed as soon as you notice it because a leaking pipe can damage your floor and cabinet.
If the problem is not due to a leaky or broken pipe then, most probably, your water softener needs a repair or you need to drain and flush the tank again. If this doesn’t work, then you might have to buy a new softener.
Final Words
So, Why is My Water Yellow After Installing Water Softener?
The post is a response to all the readers who have ever had this question in their minds. The problem of your water turning yellow after installing a new water softener can be solved using any of the above-mentioned 4 ways.
Using a Water Filter System might be the best solution if you are worried about your skin and health because it will provide you with both clean and healthy drinking water as well as soft water for bathing.
However, if the problem continues to persist, then you must consider buying a new water softener. But before doing so, make sure that this is not caused due to any leaky or broken pipes located underneath your sinks or behind your toilet.
Because running water will make its way through these openings and make your faucets appear cloudy. If you follow any of these steps, then you will certainly resolve the problem of “Why Does My Water Turn Yellow After Installing a New Water Softener”.
Thanks For Reading!
Born in the Philippines, Joseph Solis Moved to Canada at age 6. He attended Simon Fraser University and received his Masters’s in Chemistry. His research domains include water filtration, water softening, and overall water treatment.
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