Water filters are crucial to the health of a home. They filter out contaminants from your water and keep it living up to its name, fresh. If you suddenly notice that your tap water is black or smelly, something is really wrong somewhere. There are a few things that could have caused your filter to turn black or smelly like bacteria build-up, debris clogging small holes in the device, or mineral deposits on pipes outside of your home. Your water filter turned black, and it’s made your drinking water nasty. This article will give you all the tips for diagnosing why yours turned black and tell you how easy it is to fix it.
- Why is my whole house water filter black?
- Significant causes of Black Sediments in the Well Water
- Black Stuff in My Well Water: How to eliminate black sediments from water
- How To Flush Out Black Sediments From Water Filters
- Is it OK to drink the carbon from water filters?
- How do I know if my sediment filter needs to be replaced?
- FAQ
Why is my whole house water filter black?
There are a few reasons why your water filter might be black. One possibility is that the activated carbon in the filter has become saturated and can no longer absorb any more contaminants. When this happens, the water will start to turn black. Another reason for discolored water could be that air bubbles have gotten trapped in the carbon filter, which can also cause it to turn black.
It’s important to note that not all Brita filters use activated carbon. Some models use a different filtering technology called ion exchange resin, which doesn’t cause filtered water to turn black. If you’re using one of these filters and notice that your water is still discolored, it may be time to replace it with a new Brita filter cartridge containing activated carbon.
Before you start using your Brita filter, it’s important to pre-soak and flush it so that there are no air bubbles trapped in the carbon filter. This will help ensure optimal performance and keep your water looking clear and fresh.
If you’ve been using your Brita filter for a while and notice that its performance has decreased, it may be time to replace the carbon filter cartridge with a new one. Over time, the activated carbon can lose its ability to remove contaminants from the water.
Top Reasons Your Water Filter May be Returning Black Specks
Your Water Comes from a Well:
If you get your water from a private well, there may be black and brown sand and silt in it. Even though this can sometimes give your water an unpleasant crunch, these particles are not dangerous. If the well is brand new, run it for a few days to clean out the dirt. You can also put in a screen filter or a sandstone liner in a sand-and-gravel well.
Your Pipes Are Corroded:
When your pipes get old, they may corrode and let small pieces of old pipe into your water supply. When you turn on your water after being away for a long time, you will notice these specks the most. Pipe corrosion isn’t a big deal in small amounts, but the more corroded material you find in your pipes, the more likely it is that you’ll need to have them replaced by a professional.
Your Water Heater is Corroded:
If you only see black spots in your tub, shower, and sink when you use hot water, it’s likely that they are coming from your water heater. If this is the case, you can call a professional plumber for maintenance or flush out your water heater yourself. But if the problem keeps happening, you may need to get a whole new water heater.
You’re also dealing with other parts that are broken:
If the black spots in your water are rubbery, they may be from a rubber gasket, washer, or even a flexible water supply hose. Rubber can break down over time because of the disinfectants in the city’s water supply. Call a plumber to see if you need to replace any parts of your plumbing system.
Significant causes of Black Sediments in the Well Water
Low Water Table
Black sediments increase in the well water when the walls of the aquifer are damaged. This can be caused by a low water table, which happens when the groundwater level falls below the level of the soil or rock formation that stores water. When this happens, water slowly seeps through tiny cracks and openings in rocks and soils, dissolving minerals as it flows. The resulting mineral-rich water can cause black sediment buildup in wells.
Wrongly placed pump
The cause of black sediments in the well water is a wrongly placed pump. If you are wondering how to get rid of brown well water, lift the pump off the ground and contact your drilling rig service to see it’s location in relation to your home or property line. The growth of these sediments increases when the pump is not placed properly.
Faulty Filters
Black sediments in the well water can come from a poorly installed filtration system. If you are seeing black sediments in your well water, it is likely that the installation of your filter was not done properly.
A whole house filtration system improves water quality by removing all black sediments. This is because the system removes all large particles and small particulates, as well as minerals, organic compounds, and VOCs.
Black Stuff in My Well Water: How to eliminate black sediments from water
Perform Water Test
If you are seeing black sediments in your water, it is important to have the water tested to determine the source. ATS Environmental provides testing and services for residential, commercial and municipal water systems. The company holds a New Jersey DEP state contract and is qualified to help you resolve your sediment issue.
Treating Manganese With a Water Softener
Manganese is a metal that is found in nature. It can be harmful to humans if it is ingested in large amounts. One way to reduce the amount of manganese in water is by installing a water softener.
Water softeners are able to remove the minerals from hard water. Hard water leaves microscopic deposits in pipes, faucets, and wells. These deposits can build up over time and create problems such as black sediment in well water or decreased water flow.
Water softeners are inexpensive to purchase and install. They collect positively charged molecules (like calcium and manganese) that stick to negatively charged particles; this results in ‘soft water. If a water softener is properly maintained, it will last for years. Water softeners are more affordable than the permanent health problems associated with manganese toxicity. There is a range of solutions for black sediments in well water, but installing a quality water softener should be your first step!
Multi-stage Whole House Filters
If you are seeing black sediment in your well water, it is likely that the cause is manganese. This can be caused by a multitude of different chemicals and minerals, such as sulfur or iron. A 3-stage water filter is an effective solution to remove sand in well water. The carbon filter helps eliminate VOC’s, chlorine, and manganese. The third stage is often a redundant microfilter. These filters are more expensive but provide a higher-end result by providing water that is free of contaminants like chlorine, VOCs, and minerals
How To Flush Out Black Sediments From Water Filters
For a Brita faucet filter
The Brita faucet filter does not need to be pre-soaked before flushing. This is because the water flows to the chamber where it is then drained. Mold grows on the edges of the water chamber and should be removed immediately, as well as sanitized. The filter must be replaced and cleaned every few months.
The water cannot become contaminated by mold because the water flows to the chamber where it is then drained. The Brita Filter Type is a guide for how often you should change your filter (based on 100 gallons of water). However, if your household uses more or less than this average, then you will need to adjust accordingly. The Brita Faucet Filter is good for 94-100 gallons of filtered water while the Brita Bottle Filter can last up to 40 gallons.
For Standard, Longlast, Stream, and Bottle filters
For Standard, Longlast, Stream, and Bottle filters:
- Black sediments can be flushed out by running the filter under cold water for at least 15 minutes.
- Black sediments can be removed from the water chamber by washing them out with water, and then rinsing and drying it before use again.
- A lot of black sediment will stick to the side of the water chamber when filling, so wash out and dry it before using
- Mould does not grow in water, only on the surface of filters and inside of chambers. Regularly changing water filters help prevent mold growth.
Is it OK to drink the carbon from water filters?
When your water filter turns black, it’s natural to wonder if it’s safe to drink carbon-filtered water. The answer is yes. it is safe to drink because carbon is not regulated by the EPA, and it does not have any negative side effects. So if your water filter turns black! It’s still safe to drink filtered water.
How do I know if my sediment filter needs to be replaced?
If you see fine silt in well water, your sediment filter needs to be replaced. The benefits of installing both types of filters include they’re not too expensive and they remove dirt from well water better than other filters (in case it has an unpleasant odor or bad taste). If your pump is put on the ground near a well and sand starts coming out, then that may be an indication that your pump is too strong for your well. If you notice sand saving the pump, it means that it’s worn out and needs to be replaced soon.
FAQ
Why Is My Brita Filter Water Black?
The activated carbon in Brita filters can turn the water black. This is because activated carbon is used to filter out contaminants. Aftermarket Brita replacement filters may use a more advanced form of activated carbon, which can cause the water to be darker.
Carbon is the “glue” that binds activated carbon together and creates more pore spaces in the filter. When this happens, it allows for a greater surface area for contact with contaminants, which means they are removed from the water more effectively.
Activated carbon is created by exposing the carbon to heat and pure gases, creating more pore spaces in the filter. This makes it possible for more impurities to be removed from the water as it passes through.
Carbon filters have a porous structure which removes contaminants from drinking water. The pores are so small that most bacteria and viruses cannot pass through them. In order to ensure no air bubbles are trapped inside, you should pre-soak and flush your carbon filter before using it. You can end up with some carbon in your filtered drinking water if you do not properly rinse your filter after each use
Is Carbon From Brita Filters Harmful?
Consuming activated carbon dust or particles from Brita filters is not harmful. Carbon is not regulated by the EPA, and there is no standard maximum amount that you can’t consume. Some people believe that consuming activated charcoal has positive health benefits such as blood cleansing, teeth whitening, and reduced flatulence and bloating. The activated charcoal in water filters is not ingested at a dangerously high concentration. Carbon could potentially adsorb some substances, but there are no studies supporting this and it’s unlikely that carbon would be absorbed from filtered water.
What causes a water filter to turn black?
There are a few reasons why your water filter may turn black. The most common reason is that sediment has built up in the filter over time and needs to be cleaned out. Other causes can include rust or gravel deposits, which can occur if your well is not properly sealed. If you have a municipal water supply, sediments may be present due to filters not working properly or being damaged by floods.
Most tap water will contain some sediment due to filters not working properly or being damaged by floods. To remove all the sediments from your water, you must find out why they are there in the first place. Sediments in well water can harm your health, so it is important to determine the cause and take corrective action as necessary.
Why does my PUR water filter have black stuff in it?
All PUR water filters contain activated carbon, which is responsible for trapping the carbon particles found in your water. The activated carbon is made by exposing a piece of coal to high temperatures and gases such as argon or nitrogen until they become porous.
Carbon filters require pre-soaking and flushing before use to remove any excess carbon from the filter. Not enough carbon filter prep time can reduce its effectiveness in trapping particles. Preparing the carbon filter before it’s used is important because you can end up with a large number of unnecessary particulates in your water.
Mike Spencer
Hi Guys, Mike is a Mechanical Engineer who specializes in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning. His love for humanity and his profession propels him to share useful and factual Information on this blog.
