Why Is My Water Milky?

There are few things more concerning than turning on the faucet and seeing anything other than fresh, crystal clear water pour out. But we’ve all been there – you turn the knob, and instead of that trustworthy stream of H2O, you get a cloudy and diluted substitute.

Many people have to deal with this problem, and it seems like it could be a serious issue. This is your family’s drinking water, so it is important that you make sure it’s safe to consume. Luckily, this particular issue with your water is harmless, and you don’t have to take any drastic measures to get it fixed.

The “cloudiness” or “milky” look in your water comes from dissolved air. Air that is packed inside your tank gets compressed and ends up flowing with the water through your pipes. When you turn on the faucet and let the water flow into your glass, the air flows with it and becomes visible to you.

It’s harmless to both you and your water tank, so there is really no cause for alarm. If you fill a clear glass and watch it for a few minutes, you’ll see that the cloudiness will slowly clear up, starting from the bottom of the glass and making it’s way to the top, until you have yourself a perfectly clear glass of water.

That movement you see from the bottom to the top of the glass is the tiny water bubbles floating to the surface and being released back into the atmosphere. If you don’t have as much air trapped in your water, you might actually see some sparkling or tiny air bubbles.

If this is something that really bothers you, and you want to get it fixed, you can try to clean out the aerators at the end of your faucet. Manufacturers install these to help aerate the water as it comes out of the tap. Pop this part off and clean it thoroughly.

Reattach the aerator to your faucet, and see if the problem persists. You might have to fully replace it with a new one. If replacing doesn’t solve the issue, you are probably better off replacing your whole faucet.

If you are experiencing other issues with your plumbing and find that you would rather employ the help of a professional rather than troubleshoot, give Arco Comfort Air a call! We have experienced plumbers that are trained in their trade and want to provide you with quality customer service. Don’t waste another minute being uncomfortable in your own home!

“Glass of milk” by Marina Shemesh is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0