Cloudy or Discoloured Water: Diagnosing Visible Water Quality Issues
How to tell if your filter is clogged or if there are new contaminants like rust and sediment bypassing the system.
If the water coming out of your filter is anything but crystal clear, the system is failing its primary function. Visible water quality issues fall into two main categories: harmless air or serious contaminant breakthrough.
Visual Water Quality Problems
| Appearance | Primary Cause | Solution |
| Cloudy or Milky Water (Disappears from the bottom up) | Harmless Air Bubbles: This is most common right after a new filter change. The new filter media traps air, which dissolves into the water under pressure. When the water hits the tap, the pressure drops, and the bubbles appear. | Flush the System: Run the tap for 5-10 minutes. The cloudiness will diminish and disappear as the trapped air is purged. |
| Cloudy or Murky Water (Does NOT disappear) | Clogged or Failed Sediment Filter: This indicates that the filter is either completely saturated and allowing contaminants to pass through, or it is not properly seated, allowing water to bypass the media. | Replace the Filter: Shut off the water, open the housing, inspect the filter for proper seating, and replace the sediment cartridge. If the issue is persistent, test your incoming water quality. |
| Red, Brown, or Orange Water | Rust and Iron Contaminant Breakthrough: This is a clear sign that the iron/rust removal media is completely exhausted or the pre-filter that catches rust particles is clogged and has failed. | Immediate Filter Replacement: If the problem persists, you may need to upgrade to a dedicated iron filter system or backwashing filter, as a standard carbon block filter is not designed for high iron loads. |
| Black or Gray Specks | Carbon Fines/Dust: This is usually residual carbon dust from a new carbon filter. Solution: Run the water for 5-10 minutes to flush the fines. Failing Filter: If it's an old filter, it may be disintegrating. | Solution: Replace the filter immediately. |