We have all experienced it, standing in the bathroom and noticing the water in the tub or shower is discolored in some way. It could be a yellowish, brownish, or even greenish hue. The most common culprit is a buildup of iron in the pipes, but other sources of discolored bathwater include too much soap, leaking sewer lines, and even your hot water heater. If you noticed your bath water is yellow, it may be a sign that there is a problem with the plumbing in your home.
Iron pipe corrosion
The most common is rust from the pipes. When water sits in pipes for a long period of time, it rusts and makes the water turn yellow. If the water is discolored, the first thing you should do is inspect your pipes. If the pipes or fittings are rusted or corroded, you need to replace the parts immediately. The discoloration of your bath water could be due to the corrosion of your copper pipes or deterioration of your lead pipes. Although it is not usually harmful, discolored bath water is sure to be a bit of an eyesore and can be an indication that your plumbing is in need of repair.
Water Softener
If you’ve ever used a water softener, it’s not surprising that the bath water is turning yellow. Water softeners use a combination of sodium, potassium, and calcium to soften the water. While this is fine for your water supply and your home’s plumbing, it can also cause some yellow staining in your bathtub.
The issue is that water softener make an ion exchange using salt to remove mineral from water. Salt is sodium chloride, and other thing that water softener is remove is iron. So, if you have too much water softener in your water, you will see brownish color of bath water.
Hot water tank
If your bath water appears yellow, the culprit could be your hot water tank, which is responsible for warming your entire household’s water supply. Over time, sediment will build up in your tank’s pipes, and this material will leach out when the water gets hot enough. Your water’s appearance will depend on the concentration of sediment, the size of the particles and the water’s temperature, among other things. In most cases, the discoloration will be temporary, but it may leave stains if you don’t clean the tank regularly.
When the hot water tank has been used for a long time, it may cause the bath water yellow, and the situation could be the corrosion of the tank. To fix this issue, you’ll need to drain your hot water tank, clean it, and then refill it with fresh water.
Leaking sewer lines
A sewer line backup is the last thing that anyone wants to deal with, but it can happen to any home or business owner who does not store their hoses properly. When a hose is not stored properly, it can cause damage to a property’s sewer line over time. This can lead to a leaking sewer line that causes bath water to appear yellow.
A leaking sewer line can be the cause of more than just a smelly bathroom. If you don’t get a professional to fix the problem, it can spread the contaminants into the rest of your plumbing system which can lead to more serious issues.
