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Why is the water in my toilet brown?

Believe it or not, mineral and rust stains in your toilet or tub — greenish stripes, a brown ring, lime scale — aren’t caused by anything you’re doing wrong in your cleaning regimen. It’s simply something in the water.

What causes different colors?

The rust-colored stains you find under your faucets or in your toilet turn up when iron meets air. Green or brown stains in the toilet usually indicate lime buildup. Lime scale forms as hard water evaporates and leaves a mineral buildup behind.

Finally, it’s possible you have one or more clogged pipes. To fix this, try using water softeners or chlorine to lower the iron content in your water. If the issue persists, call a professional plumber to diagnose and fix the issue.

How to determine what is causing the stain

DIY water testing kits will give you an indication of how much iron your water contains in PPM or mg/L. You’ll be provided with testing strips and a color chart. Simply dip a strip in a sample of your water, then wait for the strip to change color.

How to test for iron in water

Why is the inside of my toilet tank greenish-brown?

Green or brown stains in the toilet usually indicate lime buildup. Lime scale forms as hard water evaporates and leaves a mineral buildup behind. As it dries, it picks up any dirt particles along with it, and slowly the stain builds, layer by layer, on the inside of the toilet bowl.

Why is my water brown in only one bathroom?

It is possible that there is rust leeching from an old galvanized iron pipe. If you notice the discoloration first thing in the morning or if you after being away from home for a while then it might be the supply line. This is especially true if there is only one faucet in your home producing brown water.

Why does my water come out brown at first?

This type of brown water is caused by small corrosion spots in the pipe that occur with stagnant water. The water is brown or reddish brown because loose rust particles are flushed out when the tap is first turned on. It is not dangerous for your pipes or health.

Can rusty water pipes make you sick?

Rust can affect the color and taste but isn’t a health concern. Corrosion from copper and lead pipes can be dangerous if it leaches into your drinking water. Rust caused by iron corrosion won’t don’t do much more than make the water taste metallic and is still safe to drink.

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