When you turn on the faucet and notice black specks are floating in the water, what do you do? First, don’t panic and don’t drink the water from that particular faucet. Please know it’s not uncommon to find black specks in your water on occasion. Let us explain the black particles in your water to help alleviate your concerns, identify the causes, and offer solutions to improve your home’s water.
Water Heaters
If you’re experiencing black particles in hot water and occasional particles in the cold water, the specks come from your water heater. Over time, your water heater will wear down and corrode. The tiny black particles are pieces of the water heater. Don’t rush out and replace your water heater. The best solution is to flush the bottom of your water heater and run any faucet lines to and from the water heater. Flushing a water heater is also a good practice because minerals will settle on the bottom of the heater over time, causing iron staining on your fixtures.
Corrosion of Piping
It is not uncommon to see black specks if your home has older piping, especially galvanized piping. The piping will wear down and enter the water. The only way to rid your water of this nuisance is to replace the existing water pipes.
City Water Repairs
Another source of black specks can be if your water company has temporarily shut off the water for repairs. When the water is turned back on, it will ruffle any loose particles in the pipe, causing dirty water. Again, run the faucets until the water clears.
Rubber Specks
If the black specks feel like rubber, it is likely from your appliances. Small pieces of rubber gaskets, supply hoses, and rubber washers will break down over time, especially when on city water or used with cleaning disinfectants. The best solution is to turn off the water to the particular faucet and replace the disintegrated rubber parts.
Sand or Silt
A well can pump small amounts of sand or silt into the water on a private well. Installing a whole-house sediment pre-filter is best to filter out black specks. The filter will need to be changed periodically, and a local water treatment professional can help you install the filter.
Water Filter
Does your home use a water filter? For instance, a taste and odor filter using activated carbon? If this is the case, the black carbon is escaping the filter. Black carbon is similar to coffee grounds. Therefore, it’s best to replace the filter to see if the black carbon is no longer present.
Don’t drink the water if you ever notice black specks in your water. First, touch the black specks to determine if they dissolve in your hand, are rubbery, or are sand/silt. Your local water professional will ask you questions regarding black specks, so any information you can provide is helpful. Then, you can confidently contact Huemann Water Conditioning in Johnsburg. We’ve been a family-owned local water company for over 55 years and will work with you to find a solution to your situation. Call us today at 815-385-3093.
