GREEN & BLUE STAINING & HOW TO DEAL WITH IT
Occasionally, most homeowners would experience some kind of water discoloration or green and blue water stains in their water supply or fixtures. While this is not ideal, it is something to be expected given that no matter where you source your water from, it is still prone to stains over time. Commonly found around drains, water fixtures, and appliances using water, these stains can be troublesome to deal with. In addition to that though, they can also be signs of a bigger problem that may be impacting your plumbing and that could be very expensive to repair in the long run.
Causes of Green and Blue Water Stains
Green and blue water stains can be caused by a few things like mold and mildew or electrolysis. In most cases though, much like other stains, these are caused by your water. The only difference between all the different colored stains is the content of the water. For instance, if your water contains too much iron, it leaves behind a reddish-brownish stain. If it contains manganese, on the other hand, it will leave black stains.
For green and blue water stains, the primary suspect is the pH balance of the water. The lower it is, the more acidic your water becomes. Your water becomes acidic when its pH level becomes less than 7 and copper starts dissolving once that number falls to 6.8. This is often due to your water supply containing elevated levels of dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases.
The more acidic your water becomes, the more corrosive it gets. This kind of water eats away at any material it comes in contact with and dissolves it including your copper and lead pipes. Over time, it will eat away at the metal leading to that blue-green staining. It will also make your pipes weaker and in some cases may even cause pinhole leaks which can cause flooding, water damage, and extensive repairs in the future.
How to Tell if Your Water is Acidic
Acidic water can only be truly determined by measuring its pH levels, hardness, calcium concentration, and the like. If you want to be completely sure that your water is acidic or corrosive, it is better to have your water tested. However, there are also common signs that you can watch out for to determine if your water is acidic aside from the green and blue water stains.
These include:
- An unpleasant sour or metallic taste from your water
- Low water pressure - It can be a sign of pipe corrosion.
- Irritation on your scalp and skin -
Acidic water much like hard water can be tough on your skin and hair. - Appliances like washing machines, dishwashers,
and hot water heaters are not functioning properly.
Is Too Much Copper Harmful to the Health?
Small amounts of copper aren’t harmful to humans. In fact, many of the foods you eat contain copper. It is also a component of many vitamins. However, excessive amounts of it in your drinking water is not good. If you are overexposed to copper, you might experience vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. When you notice those green and blue water stains because of copper corrosion on your water fixtures, it’s best to avoid using this water for cooking and drinking.
Solutions for Green & Blue Water Stains
The best way to know if the green and blue water stains you’ve found in your sinks, baths, or kitchen fixtures are from too much copper caused by acidic water is to get your water tested. For more acidic water, water treatment professionals would usually recommend advanced systems to directly feed neutralizing chemicals straight into the water supply.
For other cases, your acidic water can be treated by installing a whole home water filter system. Specialty filters or neutralizing whole house filtration systems can instantly help balance your water’s low pH levels. These devices use neutralizing minerals such as calcium to help raise your water’s pH levels back to normal. This will reduce pipe corrosion greatly and remove other side effects of acidic water like its metallic taste and the green and blue water stains it leaves behind.
Olde Colony's Filtration Systems Is Your Solution!
If you’re in need of someone to help you deal with the same exact problem, call Olde Colony Clean Water. We are experts in water filtration systems and we can immediately determine the right water filtration system your home needs. We are dedicated to keeping your water clean and your family healthy.
Call Today! 508-520-1250
